E-Paper November 28, 2012

Electoral symbols finalised

ECP geared up France to recognise Palestinian state at UN to hold elections I SLAMABAD —The Election also expressed the desire that ties with a total of 216 parties Commission of Pakistan (ECP) elections would be held on time.

ECP gave approval of regishas formally informed the government that preparations for the tration of 19 new political pargeneral elections have been completed.

After the meeting of the commission chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (Retd) Fakharuddin G Ibrahim, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisKhan said CEC would visit the ter Raja Pervez Ashraf Tuesfour provinces to examine the day expressed satisfaction reservations regarding different that the Election Commission institutions, beginning from of Pakistan has completed arBalochistan, adding that the CEC rangements for holding the would also have meetings with general election in the counthe nationalist parties’ leaders. try. The Prime Minister made The ECP has started phasewise consultations with all the Continued on Page 7 institutions. The government has

Raja appreciates ECP on polls arrangements

Moon eclipse in Pak today KARACHI—Several countries including Pakistan will experience the last moon eclipse of the year today.

According to the Meteorological Office, the eclipse will start at 5:15pm (local time).

There will be complete eclipse at 7:34pm, while it would be clearly seen in the country at at 7:57pm. The eclipse will end at 9:51pm here.

The eclipse will take place on the full-moon night.

The Met Office said that the eclipse would also be seen in Alaska, New Zealand, South Asia, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia and China. In some countries of Europe, Middle East and Africa, it will start right after the sunset.—INP

President political but not conspirator: Kaira SALIM AHMED LAHORE—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that said that the caretaker setup will be established in consultation with Election Commission of Pakistan.

Talking to editors‚ columnists and journalists in Lahore Tuesday, Kaira said that the date of general elections will not be extended what may be situation in the country. He said the government will extend full cooperation to the Election Commission for holding free and fair elections.

He said journalists have been made victims of terrorism but the government is making all-out efforts to provide protection to the journalist community. He said that the incident of recovery of explosive material from the

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Four workers injured in Hangu coalmine explosion STAFF REPORTER PESHAWAR—Four workers were injured in a coalmine blast on Tuesday in the Tull region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district. The blast occurred due to the filling up of gas inside the coalmine, DSP told newsmen.

The injured workers were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Hangu.

However, later, two of the severely injured workers were shifted to the Kohat Hospital.

In a separate incident, militants blew up a boys’ primary school in the Chapri Naryab area of Tull.

The blast destroyed three out of the six rooms of the school. The number of schools destroyed in the district has risen to 10.

for the upcoming elections including a new party Tehreeke-Tahafuz- e-Pakistan of nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.

ECP has assigned 171 symbols for the elections eliminated the ‘cat’ symbol upon the request of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) due to its resemblance with its election symbol ‘tiger’.

The ECP rejected eight symbols including Lota, carrot, banana and ladyfinger.

The ECP would make decision in its next meeting over including the weighing scale symbol in the election list as to which party this symbol would be is-

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Fate of Gomal Zam Dam abductees hangs in balance TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR —The fate of the eightofficials of the Gomal Zam dam project D I Khan, abducted by the Taliban more than three months ago, still hangs in balance as the infamous Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) continues to hold them in captivity and released their second video on Tuesday where in the abductees

were shown begging the government for their early releases as the TTP has threatened to kill all the captives if its demand were not met within a week time.

Some eight workers of the Gomal Zam Dam D I Khan were kidnapped from Tank-Wana road awhile they were on their way from Gomal Zam Dam to Dera Ismail Khan for Eid-ul-Fitr holidays on August 15 last.The kid-

naped officials besidesa Sub-Divisional Officer Engineer Shahid Ali Khan of Swat, also include a Sub-Engineer Sanaullah, four security personnel and two other staffers of the project.

The second video released by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Tuesday carried a threat that all the eight kidnapped employees of the Gomal Zam dam

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P ARIS —France announced Tuesday that it plans to vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly this week.

With the announcement, France becomes the first major European country to come out in favor, dealing a setback to Israel. The timing of the announcement appears aimed at

swaying other European nations.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told parliament that France has long supported Palestinian ambitions for statehood and “will respond ‘Yes’” when the issue comes up for a vote “out of a concern for coherency.”

The Palestinians say the assembly is likely to vote Thursday on a resolution raising their

UAE prepares for National Day celebrations LIAQAT TOOR ABU DHABI—UAE is preparing in a big way to celebrate its 41st National day as streets, roads, buildings and private houses are being decorated with national flags, buntings and decorative light s all over the seven principalities of the Emirates.

Plans have been made to hold major functions at private and

government levels as the 2nd December, the National Day is approaching fast, the ecstasy in the state is picking up.

About seventy journalists have already landed at Abu Dhabi on the invitation of National Media Council to see the preparations and apprise them of the socio-economic changes being taking place in the UAE.

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Malik announces Nawaz backs SBC’s Rs200m for info on Nov 30 strike call TTP spokesman SALIM AHMED STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—President Pakistan Muslim League (N) Muhammad

ISLAMABAD—Interior Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced his Rehman Malik on Tuesday said anyone providing information on the whereabouts of Tehrik-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan would be

Continued on Page 7

support for the peaceful Black Day and strike call of the Sindh Bachayo Committee (SBC) to be observed on 30th November, 2012. In a statement here Tues-

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status at the U.N. from an observer to a nonmember observer state, a move they believe is an important step toward a two-state solution with Israel. A Palestinian state would still not be a full General Assembly member, however.

Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly and the resolution

is virtually certain of approval.

But such a vote by France — a permanent council member — could weigh on decisions in other European capitals. Europe is divided over the issue.

Switzerland and Portugal have said they will vote for the measure, but Germany is among the countries that have opposed the

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France to recognise Palestinian

Fate of Gomal Zam Dam

From Page 1

From Page 1 would be brutally assassinated if the government failed to accept their(Taliban) demands by December 3 2012.

The kidnapped workers were shown in the video, begging official help and requesting the government to accept the TTP demands before the deadline in order to save their lives. One of the kidnapped engineers, Shahid Ali Khan is seen speaking in the video, which has the TTP’s name written in the background, as well as gun-toting men whose faces were not clearly visible.

Though the 46-minute video showed Khan narrating his ordeal in Urdu language and the militants’ demands for their release, however, the nature of their demands remained unknown. Engineer Shahid further said that they were recording the video on November 23, 2012 and the deadline for acceptance of the TTP demands is December 3 2012 and government would have to act promptly failing which they would be brutally murdered. The militants in the past mercilessly murdered and even slaughtered the abductees when their demands were not met after the expiry of deadline. Even in the recent past a number of government officials as well as the men in uniform were brutally killed by the Taliban abductors in tribal agencies.

Malik announces From Page 1 awarded rupees 200 million.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, Malik said Ehsan was working for foreign elements and vowed to soon reveal all about the TTP spokesman. The minister added that the TTP was a divided organisation and now constituted of various groups, including the Waliur Rehman faction, the Hakimullah Mehsud group and other small factions. Malik moreover questioned as to what kind of shariah the TTP spokesman wanted to enforce in the country which legitimised the killings of innocent civilians and sanctioned suicide bombings.

He said “terrorists” were defaming the religion and shariah for money, adding that, the government had struck a peace agreement with the Taliban in Swat which the latter themselves violated.

bid. Britain’s position remains unclear. Palestinians say they are doing this out of frustration over the four-year deadlock in peace efforts.

They believe an endorsement of their state will bolster their negotiating position. Israel strongly opposes the bid, accusing the Palestinians of trying to bypass negotiations.

The resolution would endorse a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel opposes a pullback to the 1967 lines. As French

lawmakers applauded Tuesday— many of them members or allies of the Socialist-led government — Fabius cautioned against raising Palestinian hopes too high.

“But, but, but, but, but — but at the same time, madame and monsieur lawmakers, we must show in this case a lot of lucidity,” he said.

“On the one hand, because the text is currently being discussed, and I myself had (Palestinian) President Mahmoud Abbas on the phone yesterday morning,” he said. “On the other hand, because — let’s not hide from this — that this question

will be asked at a very delicate moment.”He went on to note the “fragile cease-fire” after the recent deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli election in January, and the upcoming “change in composition of the American administration” — with the United States seen by many as perhaps the most pivotal player in the region.

“In any case, it’s only through negotiations — that we ask for without conditions and immediately between the two sides — that we will be able to reach the realization of a Palestinian state,” Fabius said.—AFP

ECP geared up to hold elections From Page 1 sued. The commission re- the district administration. He jected the plea of Chief Secre- said that the government is LAHORE: Activists of Pasban-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat, PDP and civil society are chanting slogans in favour of their demands tary for postponing the by- agreed on the complete ban on during a protest demonstration. election in Balochistan. the showing of arms or carrying Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said arms while moving during electhat record and data of every tions. He said that it was asked voter is available with the com- the prime minister that all the inmission. He said that the com- stitutions maintaining law and mission has prepared the draft at order should assist the ECP. From Page 1 its own level for legalizing the Earlier, the Chief Election Commission of Pakistan (CEC), day, he condemned the insulting election reforms.

He said that Senate special Fakharuddin G Ibrahim said behaviour of the PPP ministers committee and the commission voter lists have been prepared with the female members of the B R U S S E L S — NATO chief up security on its 900-kilometer Rasmussen said Moscow’s anxi- PML-F, during the last session of would jointly finalize the matter, with the utmost care and any Anders Fogh Rasmussen has border. It has repeatedly ety is not based on legitimate Sindh Assembly. which later on would be sent in mistakes in the lists would soon said the Patriot missiles to be scrambled fighter jets along the concerns.

Senate. Secretary Election Com- be rectified.

He said that since the passing Russia said openly last deployed on the Turkish-Syrian frontier and responded in kind to mission said that Prime Minister He added that the commisof controversial Sindh People’s border to counter threats from stray Syrian shells flying into its Thursday that it opposes the de- Local Government Ordinance and has also been informed of the im- sion would implement all orders ployment of NATO Patriot misSyria will be under NATO con- territory. portant points of the election code issued by the Supreme Court.

Defense Minister Ýsmet siles on Turkey’s border with Act, the people of Sindh have of conduct and the Prime Ministrol.

It was said in the meeting that strongly opposed it and have comYýlmaz earlier said NATO’s EuSyria, a sign of deepening tenRasmussen told the NTV ter was agreed that the venues for candidates would have to follow pletely rejected it, as the same news channel in an interview on rope Command Control System sions across the region over the amounts to the enforcing of dual election gatherings and proces- all the rules and regulations deTuesday that the Patriot missiles will be the responsible for the Syrian crisis. sions should be determined in vised by the commission during Asked about the financing of administrative system and is advance with the consultations of their rallies and public meetings. will be installed by NATO allies command of the Patriot missiles aimed at creating a state within a and will be under the command and that there are Turkish offi- the missiles, Rasmussen said the state in the province. of NATO’s Air Command and cials in the system. Hüseyin host country will take on the fiNawaz said that this soControl System. “Of course, Tur- Çelik, deputy chairman of the nancial burden. He said the mis- called local government law is an key is a NATO member country,” ruling Justice and Development siles have sufficient deterrence attempt to create a division and Party (AK Party), said in a press capability against any threats in Rasmussen noted. conflict among the people of Turkey formally asked briefing that “Turkey will be the region.

From Page 1 Sindh. He said that the PPPholding the trigger.”

Germany, the Netherlands NATO last Wednesday to deploy MQM government, in the name these remarks while talking to their public meetings and said Rasmussen added that the and the United States, are the missile defense elements on its of reconciliation, has destroyed border with Syria to boost its air alliance won’t hesitate to take only three NATO allies with ap- the peace, governance, social and Secretary Election Commission the Election Commission will defense systems as the conflict “further steps” for the protection propriate Patriot surface-to-air eco-nomic structure of Sindh. He of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiaq permit them to hold meetings in Ahmed Khan here at the PM consultation with the local adin its southern neighbor deepens. of Turkey and that the alliance missile systems available. ministration.

The Patriot missiles de- said, by this new local govern- House.

The move highlights will decide on the request by ment system, excessive and limThe Secretary Election Similarly, rallies and procesAnkara’s fears that the situation Turkey for Patriot missiles ployed to Turkey during the Gulf itless powers have been surrenCommission informed the sions brought out by candidates Wars were provided by the on its border could deteriorate “within days.”

Rasmussen added that a Netherlands. Ankara twice this dered to the mayors of few cit- Prime Minister that a code of will have to follow specified rapidly and echoes its calls for ies, which is likely to further demilitary support during the two group of NATO experts along year has invoked Article 4 of the teriorate the law and order situa- conduct has also been prepared routes approved by the Election Gulf Wars, when NATO de- with Turkish officials are con- NATO charter, which provides tion, particularly in Karachi, by the Election Commission Commission of Pakistan.

Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan also ployed surface-to-air missiles on ducting explorations in Turkey to for consultations when a mem- where thousands of innocent prohibiting display of weapons Turkish soil in 1991 and 2003. determine the best sites to deploy ber state feels that its territorial people have been lost in the last during election campaign. The informed the Prime Minister that Prime Minister appreciated the the Election Commission will Turkey formally made the the missiles. Speaking about integrity, political indepen- four years. soon hold meetings with the feddecision. request after weeks of talks with Russia’s concern over the de- dence or security is under He said that the PML (N) has The Secretary briefed the eral and provincial governments NATO allies about how to shore ployment of the Patriot missiles, threat.—Turkish News been and will continue to support Prime Minister that candidates to ensure that the law and order the peaceful political struggle of will have to specify venues of was maintained during polling. the writers, intellectuals, artists, civil society, journalists and the people of Sindh, against the SPLGA, 2012, along with almost all the political parties, and PML From Page 1 (N) Sindh chapter is an active Desert is being converted my country and both the councomponent of the Sindh Bachayo LOS ANGELES—The makers of that a Navy commando unit had Committee (SBC). into blooming flowers and the tries have very cordial and brotha Hollywood movie about the US killed bin Laden in a compound Emirates are giving a look of erly relations. operation to kill Osama bin in Pakistan. modern state in the south of Arab He said UAE using educa“I picked up the phone and Laden denied asking for classipeninsula. tion and other social instruments fied material for their film, but started calling sources and askThe journalists hailing from for peace and stability in the resay they did conduct interviews ing them what they knew and takdifferent countries on Tuesday gion. UAE is working with other with a CIA officer and others at ing referrals and knocking on interacted with some of the top countries to achieve this goal, he the heart of the decade-long hunt doors and really approached it as brass of the government includ- said. comprehensively as I could,” for the al Qaeda leader. ing high-profile Sheikh Nahyan During meeting with in in“It was all based on first- Boal told “Nightline” according P ESHAWAR —The Khyber bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minis- teraction with Sultan Nasser Al hand accounts so it really felt to an advance excerpt.

Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Infor- ter of state for Higher Education Suwaidi, Governor of the Cen“I certainly did a lot of home- mation, Public Relations, Culture and Scientific Research at Sheikh tral Bank said UAE has introvery vivid and very vital and very, very immediate and vis- work, but I never asked for clas- and Transport, Mian Iftikhar Nahyan bin Mubarak’s Palace duced liberal policies and the we ceral of course which is very sified material,” he said. “To my Hussain called on the Governor, where he said UAE has allocated are even allowing other nationexciting as a filmmaker,” knowledge I never received any.” Barrister Masood Kausar at twenty five percent of the na- als to get loans to and start their The release of “Zero Dark Governor’s House, Peshawar on tional budget to education which business in the UAE. Kathryn Bigelow, director of “Zero Dark Thirty,” told ABC Thirty” - seen as a strong con- Tuesday. is highest in the world.

Dr Nawal Al Hosani, News in an interview aired on tender for Oscar nominations When asked about the stu- Driector of Sustainability Masadr He remained with the Govwas pushed back to December ernor for some time and dis- dents of UAE getting admission city while briefing the journalists Monday.

Bigelow and screenwriter after the film got caught up ear- cussed various matters pertaining in Pakistan, he said UAE has sent said UAE is working on a plan Mark Boal said in a “Nightline” lier this year in a US election year to well being of the people of the its students to get training in mili- to use renewable energy sources interview that they were origi- controversy. tary and other fields. Pakistan is for future. province.

The film reconstructs the nally working on a film about the Talking on this occasion, the failed bid to find bin Laden in the hunt for bin Laden largely Governor also referred to the Tora Bora mountains of Afghani- through the eyes of a young fe- FATA Festival being held in the stan during the U.S-led invasion male CIA officer, played by Jes- provincial metropolitan shortly sica Chastain, who helps find him and stressed the need of ensurthere in 2001.

From Page 1 But their plans changed through a long-forgotten courier. ing efficient representation of the swiftly after US President Barack Obama only makes a fleeting ap- province and its different orga- vehicle of senior anchor Obama announced in May 2011 pearance in the film.—INP nizations in the event.—Online person Hamid Mir is condemnable.

The information minister said Pakistan People’s Party has always worked for stability of the country and it will continue to pursue this course in future as well. He urged the Pakistan KABUL—Even after the end of threw me out of the house,” said rape, polygamy and even Muslim League (N) to play posithe brutal rule of the Taliban in Begum, who wears a burka. She “baad,” a tribal custom of giv- tive role in the national politics.

He said that being the CoAfghanistan, Afghan women to- added that since the government ing forcibly the hand of a widow day are still yearning for gender does not have a social welfare or girl to a man from an oppos- Chairman of PPP‚ the President equality, something that probably program for poor or abandoned ing tribe to settle a dispute and could also become the Prime Minister but he chose to be a would remain wishful thinking women like her, they have no end enmity. choice but to beg in the streets.

Afghanistan, according to President to end the politics of for many years to come. from the In the male-dominated and women rights activists, is a chal- conspiracies “Is this our right to beg from dawn to dusk to feed my chil- conservative Afghanistan, the lenging country for women to President’s House.

He said that President Asif dren? Is this the right of women International Day for the Elimi- live.

Discrimination against Ali Zardari feels very strong in Afghanistan to suffer at the nation of Violence against hands of men?” asked Shah Women was marked on Sunday. women, particularly in the coun- politically and that is why he In her remarks on the occa- tryside, is still rampant. A girl shifted all his powers‚ including Begam, a 39-year-old woman beggar, just a day after the world sion, Afghan Minister for can be forced to marry a boy the appointment of Army Chief marked the International Day for Women Affairs Husan Bano chosen by her parents. Cases of and superior judges‚ to the the Elimination of Violence Ghazanfar confirmed that 3,500 public execution of women, Prime Minister.

Talking about Asghar Khan cases of violence against women flogging of women by Taliban against Women.

Panhandling alongside a were registered in Afghanistan militants and powerful tribal case‚ he said the case has not dirty road in Kabul, Begam in the first six months of Afghan leaders have been reported in only made the 1992 elections wondered aloud whether the year which began from March parts of Afghanistan over the doubtful but also put a question mark on all elections‚ which past year.

Afghan government is capable 21, 2012.

Ghazanfar has called on the Najiba, 22, was publicly were held in the country. He said of doing something for women like her who are forced to beg country’s religious scholars to executed by Taliban militants in the use of force during bye elecplay their a role in eliminating Ghorband district of Parwan tions if not stopped, holding of in order to survive.

She said begging itself is an violence against Afghan province a couple of months ago general elections will become insult for women in a country women, which has been on the while Sabira was publicly lashed difficult. He said the president where the constitution guaran- rise. Women in Afghanistan are in Jaghori district of Ghazni was a part of the parliament, facing a variety of discrimina- province by local mullahs adding that, the parliament tees women’s rights.

“My husband married an- tion and violence ranging from months ago after she eloped with would be incomplete without the head of state. other girl for the second time and child marriage, forced marriage, her boyfriend.—NNI

Nato to deploy missiles on Turkish-Syria border

Nawaz backs SBC’s Nov 30 strike call

CEC said reliable, authentic and verified electoral lists will be ensured in the entire country including Karachi in the light of orders given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan .CEC expressed concern over the issue of Karachi’s ‘unverified voters’.

Moreover, the meeting was briefed that installing CCTV cameras in every polling station is not practically possible; adding that, funds amounting to 75 billion rupees would be required for that purpose, hence, only the sensitive polling stations will be furnished with these surveillance cameras. Transparency international has assured assistance for this. The ECP deliberated on applications against 45 MPs of national and provincial assemblies on dual nationality, election symbols and other issues.—SANA

Raja appreciates ECP

Bin Laden movie based on first-hand accounts

UAE prepares for

Mian Iftikhar calls on Governor KP

President political

For Afghan women, gender equality is still wishful thinking

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf assured the Secretary ECP that the government will extend all administrative and logistical support to ECP to ensure maximum participation and voter turnout.

The Prime Minister reiterated government’s resolve for holding a free, fair and impartial election in the country on time and expressed the confidence that the upcoming election will further strengthen the democratic process by streamlining the role of state institutions in the polity.— APP

NAB intensifies anti-corruption efforts ISLAMABAD—In order to make its anti-corruption endeavors more vigorous and robust, Chairman NAB has instructed full support to all Judicial Commissions, organizations and committees, formed either on orders of judiciary or the government.

In this context implementation of anti-corruption regime based on orders of courts and autonomous institutions are being synergized.

A case in point is the composition of Judicial Commission probing CDA affairs. NAB under its prevention regime initiative is currently looking into the various projects of CDA including LED lights project.—Online

NDMA, UN-Habitat fundraising for ‘Resilient Cities’ I SLAMABAD —The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and UNHabitat Pakistan held a fundraising event for the “Resilient Cities” project in 31 cities of Pakistan. The project aims to establish sustainable Disaster Resilient and Healthy cities and townships in the disaster prone regions of the country. Hosted by Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir, Chairman NDMA, the fundraising event was attended by Government officials, Capital Development Authority (CDA), UN Resident Coordinator and donor agencies.

The Making Cities Resilient: ‘My City is getting ready!’ campaign, an initiative of UNISDR was launched in Pakistan in October 2011 to address issues of local governance and urban

SFD Mission visits quakehit areas STAFF REPORTER

risk. UN-Habitat joined hands with NDMA and ISDR to move this initiative forward. By 2030, it is estimated that the urban population of Pakistan will double and 50% of the total population will be residing in urban areas. The rapid population growth and lack of institutional framework contribute to unplanned developments, environmental degradation and poor services rendering these cities vulnerable to disasters and the impacts of climate change.

In his address to the guests, Chairman NDMA acknowledged the role of cities in development, prosperity and innovation. He further said that cities and towns will soon be home to two thirds of the global population which will present risk of exposure to natu-

increasing resilience to multihazard impacts including those associated with climate change.

“This project will extend till four years and will require patience from the Government of Pakistan and the community. The first and foremost step is to strengthen the capacity of the local target cities, only then will we be successful in completing this project,” said Mr. Moghaddam The project is expected to start in early January 2013 and will assimilate DRR strategies in the respective cities. With a total requirement of US$ 20,500,920, UN-Habitat and the implementing partners hope to raise adequate funds to achieve the project goal through a range of participatory planning processes incorporating cliKOTRI: Activists of PML-N holding a rally against Sindh Peoples Local Bodies Ordinance 2012, at Kotri Ralways track. mate change.—INP

Faryal blasts NSUSC for inefficiency Light rain, snowfall 13 profiteers held NAZIR SIYAL L ARKANA—As many as total 560 unnecessary North

ISLAMABAD—A five-member Sindh Urban Services Corpodelegation of Saudi Fund Development (SFD) on Tuesday visited the earthquakehit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and inspected development activities there.

Director General Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation authority (ERRA) Captain (R) Tariq Masood accompanied the delegation, said a press release.

The delegation headed by Engineer Abdullah Muhammad al Shaibi inaugurated Basic Health Unit Sachan Kalan, Mansehra.

The health centre being constructed with Rs 29 million. A residential colony is also being constructed. The delegation also visited Rural Health Centre Nawazabad Mansehra.

Captain Tariq said the ongoing projects would be completed in time. He lauded the generosity of Saudi Arabia for sponsoring mega projects such as King Abdullah University, District Complex Bagh, Government Girls Post Graduate College Muzaffarabad and King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra.

ral hazards. “Having experienced large scale disasters in the last 3 years, it is time to remodel our cities and make them resilient to natural hazards.

Through the launch of this project, we have identified some of the most vulnerable cities and will try to implement disaster risk reduction measures in public infrastructures, implement building codes, climate change preparedness; city development plans and other areas of urban livelihood,” said the NDMA chairman UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager, Siamak Moghaddam explained the New Habitat Initiative in collaboration with the UNISDR ‘City Resilience Profiling Programme’ that provides national and local governments with tools for measuring and

ration (NSUSC) staff among 60-80 laborers and above 100 supervisors found inefficient to remove only solid waste at the road sides and streets in city, people are suffering a heavy disturbances and health hazardous. In meeting MNA Faryal Talpur has also expressed dissatisfaction over the NSUSC performance in the services to the registered complaints by the citizens of Larkana, Shikarpur, Khairpur Sukkur, Rohri and others. She directed the Deputy Commissioner in Larkana for proper function-

ing of NSUSC on the occasin. ments with heavy staff and According to the North budget for the delivery of Municipal services to remove the solid waste and cleanliness in city, but they are completely failed to provide relief to the common men in Larkana.

It is an important to note that the department has the capacity of 10 hydraulic tractors, 10 side-loaders, dumpers, real loader, excavator, bloomers and all other equipments are ineffective to remove the road and streets’ side dumped solid waste in the city.

The NSUSC in Larkana, Shakarpur and other parts of Sindh Urban Services Corpo- province, in-spite of the ration sources, that Asian De- heavy funds and staff, they velopment Bank (ADB) are failed to the cleanliness funded organization has all of the cities or collect and kinds of machinery and equip- remove the solid waste, the

Threat to blow govt building; ATC sends accused on remand

Public to resist polls delay bid: Baloch O KARA —The

Jamaat-eIslami (JI) central secretary general Liaquat Baloch on Tuesday said the people of the country would strongly resist if President Asif Ali Zardari tried to delay general elections for giving protection his post of Presidency.

Talking to media persons here, the JI leader said general polls could not be delayed due to prevailing of supremacy of law and independent judiciary in the country. He said holding of impartial and free and fair elections in the county was only solution of entire challenges being faced by the country.

Liaquat Baloch said participation of political parties in the general elections could strengthen the democratic system in the country, adding that political parties should not boycott the elections because the victory and defeat in the polls was a part of election process.—INP

people suffering from various nasal and throat diseases due to the dumped waste material before the hospitals, schools, health centers, shops, markets and presence of drainage waste and sewerage water in different parts of Lahori Muhalla, Shaikh Zaid Colony, Waleed Muhalla, Nazar Muhalla, Mirokhan Chowk, Rehamatpur colony, Railway Colony and others, creating health issues of malairea, Typhoid, etc and heavy dust smoke in the air on city roads.

The citizens sufferings from various diseases and people are helpless to find any solution against their various complains registered but there is no way out at the end.

HYDERABAD: A man showing a symbolic injured girls during protest against Israel attacks on Gaza outside Press Club.

Guru Nanak birth celebrations

Sikh Yatrees arriving tomorrow RAZA NAQVI ATTOCK—Over 2700 Indian Sikh Yatrees arriving Hassanabdal Punja Sahab on 29th November to participate in 544th Birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak while hundreds of Sikhs are also arriving from the different countries.

They will stay at Punja Sahab for two days and perform their religious rituals. Evacuee Trust Board made elaborate arrangements to facilitate these

Yatrees and, Chairman Of Evacuee Trust Board Syed Asif Hashmi asked the authorities to provide better residential, medical and security facilities.

Talking to newsman Deputy Secretary Shrines Syed Faraz Abbas told that security cameras have been installed in and around Punja sahab to provide foolproof security to these Yatrees.

He further told that the board will also provide maids to all Yatrees stay-

ing in gurdwara during birthday celebrations.

Juthey Leader Jang Bahadur Singh Shirmani Gurdawara Parbandakh Committee Amritsir appreciated the facilities provided to Yatrees.

These Sikh will depart for Lahore on 1st December after “Bhog” Ceremony at Punja Sahab. On the occasion special security arrangements were made more than hundreds of police personal provided security cover to Sikh Yatrees.

M U LTA N —Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday sent Tariq Mehmood, an accused who threatened to blow up Interior Ministry’s building with explosive device, to jail on 14 days judicial remand. During the hearing, the accused told the court that he did not give any threat through telephone to Interior Ministry and the incident happened due to misunderstanding.

He further told the court that secret agency traced the call by IMEI number of the mobile phone, adding that more than one IMEI numbers were used in chain mobile.

ATC judge Javed Iqbal sent the accused to jail on 14 days judicial remand. It is worth mentioning that the accused, Tariq Mehmood, was a constable in patrolling police and he allegedly called Interior Ministry two days ago and threatened to destroy the building with explosive device. Secret agency personnel arrested the accused after tracing his call. The accused was presented before the court in Vehari on Monday and the judge including sections of terrorism against him sent the case to special anti-terrorism court.—INP

Peace committees supporting tribesmen warned OUR CORRESPONDENT LANDIKOTAL—The Lashkar-

e-Islam (LI), a banned outfit operating in Khyber Agency, has warned the residents of Bara to stay away from the anti-militants peace committees, otherwise they will have to face the consequences.

The banned outfit has distributed threatening pamphlets among the local populations while the same are also pasted on walls.

The pamphlets warned the local population that they would be eliminated if they were found involved in supporting the government-backed peace lashkars. It merits mentioning here that the pamphlets are distributed in the area despite imposition of curfew.

In order to gain public attention, the pamphlets have also been pasted with trees at some places. Meanwhile, the political administration has sent back for oil tankers to Peshawar from Torkham PESHAWAR: Activist of Chitral Rights Protection Movment chanting slogans in favour of their demands during a after they were damaged in protest outside Press Club. an explosion.

at hills likely

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—District administration, Peshawar Tuesday

ISLAMABAD—Director Gen- Parachinar, Chitral, Hunza, arrested 13 profiteers ineral Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Arif Mehmood on Tuesday said light snowfall will occur at the hilly areas of the country during the months of November and December. However, heavy snowfall will start in the month of January like the last year, he informed while talking to APP. The DG indicated chances of light rain for upper parts of the country during the last days of November as well as during December with light snowfall at hilly areas.

The two weather systems will enter into the country from December 5 to December 9 which will cause normal rain at the upper parts of the country especially Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

Similarly on December 3 and 4, light rain with snowfall at hills is likely at upper parts.

According to the records of previous years, heavy snowfall and normal rains occur from the month of January to March, the DG observed.

The met office will reveal the intensity of this years expected snowfall during the first week of January, Arif Mehmood added. The lowest minimum temperatures recorded during the last 24 hours were Skardu -04 C, Kalat -03 C, Gupis -02 C, Dir,

Rawalakot, Astore and Quetta -01 C. The Multan Met office has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances

of mist in the morning for city and its suburbs during the next 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the maximum and minimum temperature was recorded as 25.2 degrees celsius and 10.5 degrees centigrade, respectively. Humidity was recorded 87 per cent at 8 am and 37 per cent at 5 pm. The Karachi Met Office has forecast fair/partly cloudy weather with cool night in the city over the next 24 hours.

According to Met office’s weather report issued on Tuesday the minimum temperature is expected to remain in the range of 15 to 17 degree centigrade.

The Met Office said light rain is likely to occur at one or two places in Kalat, Quetta, Zhob and Makran divisions of Balochistan. Cold and dry weather is likely to prevail elsewhere in the region, the weather report said.—APP

cluded 7 bakers and six butchers for overcharging from consumers and handed them over to police after registering cases under 3/6 FSA against them. The action was taken on the complaint of a delegation from Hayatabad, which called on District Coordination Officer (D.C.O) Mohammad Javed Marwat and complained regarding the loot and plunder of shopkeepers, particularly of overcharging by bakers and butchers during holidays on account of Muharram-ulHarram. Bakers and butchers during the holidays sold less weighing bread and one kilogram meat from Rs.280 to Rs.300.

Taking notice of the complaint, D.C.O directed specially appointed focal person for arresting artificial pricehike, Assistant Coordination Officer (A.C.O) Habib Arif for initiating action in this regard.

The ACO with the support of police arrested 13 persons including 7 bakers and 6 butchers from Phase-3 Chowk, Basharat Market, Bilal Market, Hamza Market, Jamaluddin Market, Afghan Market and Shama Market and after registering cases handed them over to local police. During the action, the residents of Hayatabad also accompanied the ACO.

PCRWR to install 24 water filtration plants in several cities STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Development and installation of 24 low cost water conditioning and filtration plants for provision of safe drinking water to the public is in progress. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has already installed eight plants in different cities including Islamabad, Fatehjang, Sahiwal, Sialkot, under the project “Provision of Safe Drinking Water”.

Spokesperson PCRWR Lubna Naheed said the need of these filtarion plants was felt as 45 per cent of filtration plants in the federal capital are providing contaminated water, which is used by 75 per cent of the citizens.

Many filtration plants are providing contaminated wa-

ter, which is causing hepatitis while bacteria were also found in some samples of water obtained from different sectors. People in different sectors of the federal capital blamed that filtration plants installed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) are source of many diseases including Hepatitis, as they are not maintained and are supplying contaminated water.

CDA has set up many filtration plants, but they are no more beneficial for the people as they are not checked regularly. When conacted, an official in Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR), confirmed these facts and said human wastes were found in the water obtained from some filtration plants.

Some filtration plants are dysfunctional either due to their damaged taps or taps were stolen. Lubna said PCRWR has also developed low cost water testing and treatment technologies which include field testing kits for basic drinking water quality parameters, arsenic removal technologies and chlorinators for water purification etc.

She said water pollution has become a serious problem in Pakistan. Most of the reported health problems are directly or indirectly related to water quality. “The quantitative and qualitative concerns related to water, call for an action plan for efficient development, utilization and monitoring of the water resources of the country”.

Teaching most honourable profession: Kausar PPP to sweep elections Staff Reporter

STAFF REPORTER

P ESHAWA R —The Khyber I SLAMABAD —Chairman of Pakistan Pakhtunkhwa Governor,

Peoples Party Punjab Mian Manzoor Wattoo said that PPP will form government in Sindh and sweep elections in Southern Punjab. Talking to a private news channel, he said that when PPP will contact people with its sacrifices, people will vote for it. He said PPP has interaction with PML-Q and there is clear strategy for upcoming general elections.

He said cooperation is possible with PML-N and Teheek Insaaf for formation of the next government. On query whether he will be candidate of new Chief Minister of Punjab, he said he will follow party decision.

Earlier, talking to media persons after the meeting of the PPP cabinet at the Zardari House former home minister Sindh, Manzoor Husain Wassan has said the general election would be held in the month of April and the PPP would sweep the polls.Known in the media for his revelations after seeing dreams, Wassan said he would predict about the next prime minister after seeing a dream. He said the aim of the meeting of the PPP leaders was to take a view of the working of ministers and the party’s members of the assemblies. The PPP leader said the election campaign had been formally launched by the PPP from today and Chairman PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has triggered the political activities of the party. Wassan said he was optimistic that the PPP would sweep the coming elections to be held in April. He claimed the PPP would also win this time on those seats which it had lost in the previous polls. The people are joining the PPP in large numbers not only from Sindh but from all over the country, he claimed.

War against terrorism to continue Staff Reporter

I SLAMABAD —Member National Assembly (MNA) of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Shazia Marri said that Pakistan was facing war against terrorism and urged all political parties to contribute for elimination of this menace from the society. Talking to a private television channel, she said that “we could not compare Pakistan with any other country due to its strategic location and challenging situation.”

She said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government was decisive to eliminate terrorism to ensure peace in the country, adding that Pakistan has made remarkable sacrifices for peace, which has been recognized world wide.

She said that all state institutions and media committed to maintain peace in the country. Earlier, member of the National Assembly Shazia Marri has expressed deep shock over the blasts in different cities that claimed several precious and innocent lives. In a statement issued here on Thursday, Marri expressed condolences and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed souls in eternal peace and may their mission be taken forward with the same resolve and spirit. She prayed that may the Almighty grant speedy recovery and health to those who are injured.”It’s a war between two ideologies and we stand united in combating the enemies of our nation and children, the cowards will Inshallah be defeated,” she added. Earlier, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Tuesday that escalating incidents of target killings in the metropolis were the part of a pre-planned conspiracy to destabilise the financial hub of the country. Speaking at a an emergent press conference at the committee room of the Sindh Secretariat, the minister said that besides Taliban factor, the elements working for external forces were behind flaring acts of lawlessness in Karachi.

Badar leaves for Albania Staff Reporter

I SLAMABAD —Leader of the House in Senate Jahangir Badar Tuesday left for Albania on a three-day visit to attend celebrations of 100 years of country’s independence. Badr, who is representing Pakistan in the ceremony, was welcomed by activists and office bearers of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party in Vienna and also hosted a dinner in his honor. Addressing the reception, Badr stressed the activists to play their role to promote democracy and strengthen democratic values, said a press release. He also emphasized upon them to create Pakistan’s soft image as the expatriates were country’s assets and the government was committed for their welfare. During the visit, Badr would also attend a luncheon to be hosted by Albanian Prime Minister and a reception by country’s president in the presidential palace. He will also visit the National Library of Albania and Arts Gallery besides interacting with the country’s leadership. The 100-year celebrations include military parade in Tirana, concerts of folk and popular music and Vlor‰, hoisting the flag by the president of the republic, ceremony of hoisting the flag and laying of the wreaths at the Martyrs’ of the Nation Cemetery. On 28 November 1912, after centuries of Ottoman rule, Albania finally declared independence. It was an emergency decision. The neighbouring states of Serbia and Macedonia were showing strong interest in Albania and, by declaring independence, Albania was able to circumvent occupation by their armies. Nevertheless, with the outbreak of the First World War this young nation once again came under the influence of foreign powers.

Tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz Our Correspondent

HYDERABAD —Pakistan People’s Party

Barrister Masood Kausar has said that teaching is the most honourable profession and to ensure its dignity, the civilized nations always respect their educational institution by extending respect to their respective teaching communities. Visiting educational institutions, he added, always make him proud, as it offers him to meet learned people. Addressing the Convocation 2012 of University of Peshawar at its premises on Tuesday, the Governor who is also the Chancellor of the University stressed the need to bring the institutions of higher learning in the coun-

try to a level where they come upto the expectations.

In all more than 481 graduates, eleven each were honoured with Ph.D and M.Phil degrees while the rest bagged masters in almost thirty disciplines and amongst them 31 were awarded gold medals for achieving distinctive positions. Referring to the confronting challenges, the Governor said, ensuring establishment of a tolerant society is indeed the biggest challenge and there is a need that the institutions of higher learning must make them open for wisdom oriented deliberations and contribute significantly for betterment of the nation.

Being Muslims, he added, it is our firm belief that the Religion of Islam has the capacity to meet every challenge of the

time and now it is upto the scholars that how they ensure protection of constitutional and moral rights of the people. “Individuals could never be allowed to impose their own agenda and this is the aim for which we as a nation have been offering sacrifices for quite some time”, the Governor said.

The Governor also highlighted the importance of economic development and said, “we live in an age where knowledge has become more important to economies and societies and the rapidly circulating capitals and knowledge are replacing as tools of economic growth and increasingly becoming foundations for prosperity and social mobility”. Making research and educational studies more relevant to contemporary re-

quirements, he added, has become imperative to bring change in outlook of the standards of higher education and learn from the past mistakes to make our workings relevant to current demands.

Promotion of workable academia- industry linkages, he said, is prime responsibility of higher educational institutions and there is a need to avail the potential of youth learning at the campuses. The Governor also appreciated the management of the University of Peshawar for taking steps in collaboration with FATA Secretariat and Tribal Areas Chamber of Commerce and Industry for exploration, development and utilization of natural resources in FATA. Referring to certain points raised by the Vice Chancellor,

Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz, the Gov- generate a changed environernor pointed out that situa- ment especially in respect of

PESHAWAR: Students of Peshawar University pose for photograph after convocation ceremony. tion developed in wake of 18th financial requirements of the Amendment has indeed led to universities.

Hasanabdal-Mansehra Expressway funds go short STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Ministry of Communications is pursuing a plan to construct Hasanabdal-Mansehra Expressway (E-35) in six packages and would complete the project as per availability of required funds. An official source on Sunday said E-35 has been planned in two sections with completion period of four years subject to approval of PC-I and allocation or provision of necessary funds.

The first package is Hasanabdal-Havelian (58 km) under which three sections including Burhan Interchange-Jarikas 20 km, JarikasSarae Saleh Chowk 18 km and Sarae Saleh Chowk-Samlaila 20 km. The second package is Havelian-Mansehra (51 CHITRAL: Resident of Rumbor valley both Muslims and Kalash community hold a protest demanding for carly km) and its three sections are Samlaila-Dhamtor 15 km, release of their timber stopped by Ayun people illegally.

Action against fake degree holder doctors start OUR CORRESPONDENT Q U E T TA — B a l o c h i s t a n Health Secretary Asmatullah Khan Kakar Tuesday said his department has initiated scrutiny of degrees of the doctors in the province. Talking to media, Health Secretary said that following the suspension of striking doctors, the emergency of all government-run hospitals have been reopened where the doctors were providing treatment to the patients.

Strategy has been finalized to take action against the private hospitals being run without NOC in the provincial capital, he added.

“All BHUs and emergency

units are now functional with doctors performing 24 hours duties in the province,” he stressed.

He said that fake degrees obtained from Vienna, Russia and Kabul is not acceptable, as scrutiny in this connection has also initiated to take the legal action against those found guilty. Expressing resentment over the prolonged strike of doctors that stretch over a month for the release of their colleague, Kakar said, under the directives of Chief Minister Balochistan, there would be no relaxation for the protesting doctors who would have to explain their unprofessional and unjustified attitude.

Bux, Joyo to get honorary degrees OUR CORRESPONDENT H YDERABAD —The Syndicate of University of Sindh Jamshoro has decided to grant honorary degrees to late Dr. Nabi Bux Khan Baloch and Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo in recognition of their valuable services in the field of education. The university spokesman informed here on Tuesday that the syndicate made the decision in its meeting held here the other day under the chair of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazir A. Mughal. The syndicate recognized the valuable services of Professor Anwer G. Syed and honoured him as Professor Emeritus of the University of Sindh Jamshoro.

KP teams to inspect arms, ammunition dealers

Firing on vehicle leaves 2 dead STAFF REPORTER P ESHAWAR —Two persons were killed and six others injured when rivals opened firing on a vehicle on by-pass road near Rajar village in Charssada district. According to police, the incident occurred in the limits of Charsadda police station on by-pass road where the vehicle of Kausar Khan was apparently ambushed, killing Sakeena wife of Wakeel and a person instantly and injuring six others.

The motive behind the gory incident was stated to be old enmity. Police have started investigation.

Meanwhilr, the Home and

Tribal Affairs Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has constituted provincial inspection team to carry out inspection of arms and ammunition dealers in districts Swat, Buner, Shangla and Chitral.

The team comprising Incharge Enquiries Wing of Home Department will carry out inspection of the arms dealership units in District Swat on November 28 and 29 and would furnish its inspection report along with recommendations to the competent authority by December 5, 2012, said a press release here on Tuesday.

Quetta: Child dies in road mishap: A child was killed in a road mishap in Killa Saifullah district. Levies

force said on Tuesday that the victim identified as Dorak Khan was crossing the road when a speedy tractor hit him.Resultantly, he died on the spot. His body was handed over to the heirs after completion of legal formalities. Levies force is investigating the matter.

Multan: Man injures exwife: A man injured his exwife with an axe in City police limits on Tuesday morning. Accused Mohammad Aslam of Z-Town had divorced Zareena Bibi some time ago. After divorce, Zareena Bibi reportedly claimed the ownership of a house which was in her name which enraged Aslam.

Dhamtor-Mirpur 11 km and Mirpur-Mansehra 25 km.

The official said land acquisition of pack-II (SectionI) has been completed and that for packs-I & III only partially completed and is being delayed due to paucity of funds. He said National Highway Authority (NHA) requires Rs. 500 million for land acquisition proceedings. The land acquisition for section-2 (HavelianMansehra) will commence after finalization of the alignment.

He said pre-qualification notice for procurement of construction contractors for section-I (Pack-II, JarikasSarae Saleh Chowk) has already been published for submission of applications.

The applications received are being evaluated and tendering is expected by December 2012.

SPARC sees Children Act 1991 ambiguous OUR CORRESPONDENT QUETTA —The Protection of the Child Rights (SPARC), Tuesday expressing concern over Employment of Children Act 1991 demanded that ambiguities, anomolies and contradictions in the said Act should be rectified. “The Employment of Children Act 1991 has various confusions as it simultaneously bans and regulates child labour.”

The National Manager of SPARC, Child Labour Unit, Gulnaz Zahid, in “Training on

Tackling Child Labour through Effective Legislative, Implementation and Monitoring”, said the Act should clarify and define the issue of Child labour minutely to endorse the international standards. “If a law has no clarity to define an issue and people take interpretation of the law on their own then it is a confused law like that the Employment of Children Act 1991 that simultaneously bans and regulates child labour,” she said.

She disclosed that no single definition of child

labour is given in this law. She emphasized the need to make differentiation between child work and child labour through law. Abdul Khaliq Dotani, Labour Officer, Government of Balochistan said that after passage of 18th Amendment, no single law exists in Balochistan at provincial level to check and stop child labour.

He added that according to law experts, after passage of 18th Amendment, Employment of Children Act 1991 has lost its status and now it could not be taken as effective.

UAF to establish biotech chair OUR CORRESPONDENT FAISALABAD—Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor (VC) University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), said that a state-of-the-art Center for Biochemistry as well as a Bio-Technology Chair would be established at UAF to promote scientific approaches among researchers.

Addressing the inaugural session of a 5-day HEC workshop on “Imparting practical training in molecular and biochemical techniques” organized by the Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry Department in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) at New Senate Hall UAF on Tuesday, he said that transformation was underway replacing teaching with learning to equip youths with latest innovative technologies being practiced in the world’s top educational QUETTA: FC personnel searching a patient at the entrance of Civil Hospital. institutions.

(PPP) cultural wing Hyderabad has organized a ceremony to celebrate the 28th death anniversary of revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz here on Monday November 26. According to the press release issued here Tuesday the chief guest of the ceremony was Sarfaraz Rajar advisor to chief minister. Speaking at the event Sarfaraz Rajar has said that Faiz Ahmad Faiz was one of the most prolific poets of the 20th century, Faiz was a humble person with an optimistic approach towards life. His love for humanity was free of the prejudice of race,colour or nationality. Apart from being an innovative poet, he was the poet of beauty and STAFF REPORTER love, and for him, there was no difference between the three; love, beauty and revolution had become identical in him.

PESHAWAR—The next round Aziz Memon General Secretary PPP cultural wing Hyderabad, of Sub National Immunization Ghullam Hussain Khaskheli and others also highlighted the Days (SNIDs) has been life of revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Faiz Ahmed Faiz scheduled in the high risk arwas born in 1911 at Sialkot. He began his career as a lecturer eas of the country from 17 to in English at Amritsar. After the Second World War, he turned 19th December, 2012 targetto journalism and distinguished himself as the editor of The ing 17.9 million children aged Pakistan Times. He was charged with complicity in the less than five years. Talking Rawalpindi conspiracy case and condemned to four years’ to APP, Deputy Director Eximprisonment in 1951. The jail term gave him a first-hand pended Programme on Immuexperience of the harsh realities of life. Two of his books, nization, Dr Jan Baz Afridi Dast-e-Saba and Zindan-Nama are the products of this pesaid that the basic objective riod of imprisonment. As a poet, Faiz began writing on the of the SNID is to conduct conventional themes of love and beauty, but soon these high quality vaccination in conventional themes got submerged in the larger social and political issues of the day. In the matter of diction and style, MULTAN: Journalists hold a demonstration in support of their demands outside Press the high risk areas of the Club. country and the high risk Faiz may be called the inheritor of the tradition of Ghalib.

Eight million kids to be vaccinated next month populations are to be given special focus during the next round to ensure highest vaccination rates.

He said that repeated campaigns were needed during this time of the year since this was low transmission season and high quality campaigns would set the stage for the next year.

Based on the current epidemiology, all agencies of FATA and FRs have been included in this round and a total of 979,660 children would be vaccinated in tribal areas, he added. Similarly, he

went on to say that keeping in view the current outbreak situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (KPK) all districts of KPK have been included in the December round of anti-polio drive.

He informed that a total of 5.221 million including 1.52 million Afghan children would be vaccinated in KPK in the December campaign. It is pertinent to mention here that out of 54 polio cases in the country, KPK has recorded 24 cases so far while 19 cases have been reported from FATA in 2012.

MNS rightly for speedy justice

MEDIA WATCH

MPs own failings

I

N a television interview, PML (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has touched upon a number of important issues confronting the coun try giving idea about what he thinks about them and how he intends to address them if given opportunity. In a reconciliatory tone that augurs well for overall political environment, Nawaz Sharif expressed willingness to get oath of office from democratically elected President Asif Ali Zardari if elected Prime Minister in the next elections.

The views expressed by PML (N) Chief were welcome as these are reflective of the political maturity of our leadership and this has also been demonstrated successfully during the last about four and a half years when politicians did not take their differences to the extreme to destabilise each other. This is what real democracy is and we hope they would continue to tread the same path in the overall interest of the democratic process. We, however, believe that views of Mian Sahib about security and law and order situation and the way out need to be given attention by all concerned. While referring to the Karachi situation, he talked about the need for purging the police from political influence and called for speedy justice. He also recalled that during his tenure as Prime Minister he tried his best to introduce a system of speedy trial courts but it could not materialize fully due to various reasons. However, we must appreciate that Pakistan is passing through an extraordinary period that requires special set of measures to address the challenge and speedy trial courts for a limited period could the answer against acts of terrorism, target killings, sabotage, arson, and heinous crimes that are on the rise. No doubt, the superior judiciary is focused on establishing rule of law but understandably its attention is on high profile cases while thousands of cases are lingering on for not years but decades. No to speak of lower judiciary, even high courts have no time to dispose of cases for decades which virtually means denial of justice. We hope the Chief Justice of Pakistan, in consultation with Chief Justices of the High Court would evolve some workable mechanism to clear the backlog and provide justice to those who are waiting for it for years.

Worrisome attacks on journalists S

ENIOR journalist and TV anchor Hamid Mir escaped a bid on his life when a bomb planted under his car was noticed and defused by the bomb disposal squad. The recovery of the explosive material, apparently planted when he stopped at a market in Islamabad highlighted the fact how the profession of journalism has become dangerous.

Hamid Mir is one of the senior most anchorpersons whose talk show is viewed by a large number of people and in many ways he surpasses other colleagues. It is his hallmark that he expresses his views without mincing words with revealing information. In view of his independent views and brave stance, many people and groups who do not want to be exposed for their acts have turned against him. Therefore it is understandable that some extremist elements that are devoid of patience and not ready to listen the truth had killed several journalists in the past and are bent upon punishing others whom they consider opposing their view point. It is particularly disturbing that the extremist elements are roaming in the most secured city of capital with explosive material and are able to fasten the material under the car in the market. This also reflects that they (extremist) are keeping intelligence about the movement of their targets and our agencies are unable to track them. By planting the device, the extremists have given a message to not only Hamid Mir but also the journalist community as a whole that they can strike at their free will and no one is secure. The incident has been strongly condemned by Ministers and different journalists bodies and called upon the government to ensure security of the media persons. In any case the matter must be thoroughly investigated through an inter agency committee in order to immediately arrest the culprits and to award them exemplary punishment.

Rats bite newborn in hospital T

his could happen only in Pakistan: one of the twins born in Holy Family Hospital of Rawalpindi reportedly breathed his last after half-eaten by rodents while the other is receiving treatment of the injuries caused by rat bites. The ill-fated and grief-stricken parents of the twins are crying and seeking justice but history tells us nothing would happen to rectify the situation and punish the culprits.

People go to hospitals for safe births and prompt treatment and care but hospitals are turning into death trap due to poor sanitation, spurious medicines, fake or below standard tests and negligence on the part of doctors and paramedical staff. There are numerous instances of missing of newborn babies or replacement of boy with the girl with active connivance of the hospital staff but there is no end to this saga despite hue and cry by the citizens. Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif known for his good governance has been taking personal interest so that patients get more attention and facilities at emergencies and casualty departments of various government hospitals but the situation is far from satisfactory as far as cleanliness and general delivery of service is concerned. Stinking wards, missing facilities, referral of patients to markets for tests and drugs and dereliction of duties is common feature in all hospitals and this reflects poorly on the administrative skills of the MS and DMS. More or less these scenes can also be witnessed in other government departments which are infested with rats and rodents and absenteeism is order of the day. As normal monitoring and supervisory mechanism is not delivering, it is duty of elected leadership like MPAs, MNAs and Senators to remain vigilant and ensure that hospitals deliver as per their mandate. We would also demand an independent inquiry into the rat bite incident.

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A

Man’s insensitivity to women’s plight mothers or mothersin-law, are the perpetrators of crimes.

They are behind the tragedy or Kuldip Nayar dowry honour killing. A Email:kuldipnayar09@gmail.com feeble protest is seen in a few brutal cases but it is forgotten the following day. Then it is busiven as Malala Yousafzai, a ness as usual. I thought that the at14-year-old activist who ad tack on Malala would unite Pakivocated girls’ education, re- stan in pain and it would rise as one covers from the bullet shots by nation to intensify operations in Taliban at Swat in Pakistan, there Waziristan and Swat to crush is no let up in atrocities against Taliban.

No doubt, anger is there but it women in the subcontinent.

Haryana in India witnessed an- cannot be channelized without any other rape of a dalit girl and yet concerted effort or action. Religious another honour killing by parents fanatics appear to come in the way of their daughter in the northern and they are the ones who call the shots. All statements emanating part of Pakistan.

In Delhi, the national capital, from the army suggest that it will a married girl committed suicide, give no quarter to the terrorists, with her daughter, because her meaning thereby Taliban, but the in-laws had not stopped demand- operation against them lacks detering dowry even after five years mination. This may be partly true of marriage. These incidents are because Taliban are said to have distance-wise removed from one penetrated the army ranks itself. In another and they even differ in India, the most developed nation in gory details. Still they are simi- the region, the voice against the lar in intent: A woman cannot atrocities on women is probably the claim any right, much less equal- loudest. There are many political ity, in India, Pakistan or and social women leaders—the allBangladesh. I am sure that powerful Sonia Gandhi included. women in the West too undergo Even then they have not been able indignities but their advanced so- to do much, for example, they have cieties have sophisticated ways not been able to secure the 33 percent reservations for women. The to humiliate the female.

In this part of the world, a girl bill, after having been in limbo for is generally considered a curse or many years, has only made it to the burden from birth. While a boy is Rajya Sabha. The prospects of its regarded as a bread-winner, a girl approval by this house of parliais a damper on ambitions of a fam- ment are almost nil.

Male chauvinists, particularly ily. The economic factor only aggravates the social factor and it among the dalits and backward would be wrong to assume that the classes, are vehemently opposed to earning potential of a girl is the reservations to women on the real reason. But the real tragedy ground that the concessions would is that the women themselves, be cornered by the urbanite edu-

cated. This fear is without any basis because the election of women heads in half of the panchayats shows that at the ground level their confidence is immense. At least the representatives of dalits and Other Backward Classes have no face to talk about the elite among women getting the advantage of reservations because they themselves constitute a creamy layer which has not allowed the second or third rung to benefit. Titled Men and Women 2012, an official report, indicates a marginal participation of women in governance and economy sections.

Even the health, education, finance and crime indicators are causes for worry. Under the judiciary, there are two woman judges out of 26 judges in the Supreme Court and only 54 women judges out of 634 judges in high courts. This lopsided participation is reflected in other echelons too. Women only occupied 10 percent of the total central jobs in 2009.

In institutions such as scheduled commercial banks, the scenario slightly bettered to 16.6 percent in 2010 from 15.9 percent in 2009.

Even if placement of women is ratified some day, they would still face many handicaps to come up the ladder. Religious traditions also come in the way of their claim to equality. Manu, a Hindu great pundit, has advocated inferior status for women and has proposed inhuman punishments for them if they challenge men to give them an equal status. Even today the entry of women to a few temples remains barred and even the treatment meted out to them has come to have religious sanctions. As for the Muslim women, the restrictions are even wider. That they cannot enter most religious places is common. The shrine at Nizamuddin at Delhi is closed to them. The custodians of Haji Ali dargah at Mumbai has is-

sued a fiat a few days ago to disallow women from entering their premises. This was done for the first time since the shrine’s foundation hundreds of years ago. In contrast, Islam is progressive enough not to have any stigma against widow remarriage.

It is really man’s insensitivity to the feelings of women that is behind the pitiable plight of women. He neither understands nor appreciates what his wanton attitude does to her individuality.

Violence shows is only part of his assumption to be superior. The reason why women are the first target for rape in riots is not so much avarice as the humiliation sought to be heaped upon them.

Unfortunately, the government treats rape as just one of the crimes. In fact, it is a collective murder of a female. The punishment should be meted out not only to those who commit it but all those who silently watch the happening. They are as guilty just as the members of Khap, the panchayat in Hayarana who sentence young girls for wearing clothes they like or wanting to marry the person they like.

A movement is needed—in all the three countries of the subcontinent—to raise strong protests to make the public aware of the atrocities committed against women. The purpose is how to give women their rightful place in the society and make them feel that they are inferior to none in any field, political, economy or social.

The development in a country has no meaning if the society does little against discrimination and denial to women perpetuated for centuries.

—The writer is a veteran Indian journalist, syndicated columnist, human right activist and author.

can believers of this great religion snatch for themselves this right of killing each other just because they are Sunni and Shia?

Since there was no such type of division between Muslims during the time of Holy Prophet (PBUH), thus, the believers are not expected to betray themselves on the basis of any difference of opinion. Islam is a universal religion, thus its teachings are valid for all the times, until the day of judgement, as it was valid 1400 years, ago. What has gone wrong over the period of time that, Muslims rather getting directive and guidance from the Holy Book and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), were betrayed by those who intended to use the Muslims and Islam for their political gains or attainment of power; indeed, the evil game of power politics.

This process of political use of Islam then encouraged those religious tutors (Mullahs) to have their own influence over a Mosque, a group of people or a particular area.

For maintaining their dominance, they interpreted the religion in their own way and at time against its basic spirit and teachings. In Pakistan, there have been harmonious and peaceful livings between various ethnic, religious and sectarian groups and communities, ever since it came into beings.

Unfortunately, the decade of 1980s, brought this menace of sectarianism along with many other divisions and ills in the Pakistani society. This was indeed, in the backdrop of US led secret war against former Soviet Union, where Pakistani soil and people were used. The Jihadies used for this war, later involved in these undesired activities

within Pakistan. Unfortunately, the successive national leadership of Pakistan lacked the vision and the consequences of these ills, thus ignored these wrong doings in Pakistani society. In the last one decade, these people have attained a status whereby they can challenge the writ of the state and its institutions. Today, they are openly roaming all around and can kill and attack anyone whom they desire to eliminate. Karachi is one such example, where killings based on sectarianism, ethnicity and communalism is rampant. The year 2012, has been the bloodiest year with respect to the sectarian violence in the country. Whereas the sectarian killing is all over the country, no one perhaps concentrated on its intensity in three strategic locations of Pakistan; Karachi, Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Karachi is the economic hub of the country and a metropolitan city. The sectarianism and lawlessness there have virtually turned the city into a chaotic situation with a total uncertainty among its over 20 million inhabitants. The economic activities have reduced to a record low in the entire history of Pakistan. Killing Hazara Community in Quetta means creating discontentment and a sense of insecurity among this patriotic population to look for elsewhere and towards others to give them safety and protection. The Shia-Sunni clashes in GB have created an alarm among the local populace for their security and future. Then killings of Shia while en-route from Rawalpindi to GB or vice versa after identification parade means a lot. This would mean that the area

is unsafe for its strategic use and trade with China by Pakistan.

Nonetheless, sectarian clashes are taking place locally in Pakistan, but their impacts are global and long lasting. Indeed, today, the greatest danger to Pakistan comes not from outside but from within, in the form of religious extremism and sectarianism. Despite killings of thousands of people in the sectarians’ clashes, we have not been able to identify the forces and factors behind them Or else, if we know that, then there is some rationale and mystery behind not taking actions against these criminal and killers. If we think that, through enhanced security measures during Muharram and other few religious occasions, we will be able to confront and control this threat, perhaps, it would be wrong assumption.

The need of the hour is that, we must formulate the national policy to deal with this menace, decaying Pakistani society through a rapid termite. The menace is spoiling and splitting the youth of nation through undesired division and hate. These people must be dealt with iron hands. Since we have flexibility in our law, thus in the first instance, we must legislate and formulate new set of law to deal with such criminals. In the subsequent step, through an across the board security operation, all those involved in the Sectarianism should be brought to face this law. For such an act, there would be a need of political and religious unity among all political and religious parties, factions and groups.

—The writer is Islamabad-based analyst of international relations.

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mong the most striking re cent phenomena in British politics has been the willingness of Parliament to hold the Government to account. Since the 2010 election, MPs and select committees have displayed a consistent enthusiasm for uncovering the failings not just of ministers, but of all parts of the public and private sectors. There is one area, however, where their pursuit of truth and justice has been less than zealous: namely, their own affairs. When outsiders attempted to discover how many MPs were renting property from each other – a legal but morally dubious exploitation of the new expenses rules – the Speaker blocked the disclosure of landlords’ details on the specious grounds of “security”.

Embarrassingly, one of those involved in such “rent-swapping”, Kevin Barron, is chairman of the standards and privileges committee: his landlord was Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister. Nor is Mr Barron the only Westminster grandee to have faced media scrutiny recently over his personal affairs. Keith Vaz, head of the home affairs committee, was revealed to have received undisclosed payments totalling almost £500,000; Stephen Dorrell, his counterpart on health, secretly sold his London flat to the owners of a nursing home chain, before renting it back at public expense. Given that these committees are among the most powerful in Whitehall, one would have expected searching questions to be asked – or for Messrs Dorrell and Vaz to step down while investigations proceed. But in the cosy club of Westminster, the outrage has been muted. MPs still bruised by the expenses scandal see little reason to hand the press more scalps: witness how long Denis MacShane was able to string out the probes into his own fraudulent claims.

This Parliament remains a significant improvement on its predecessor – but the adage about watching the watchmen rings as true as ever. Most of the stories above were uncovered by journalists, including those on this newspaper. Yet this week, Lord Justice Leveson is to unveil proposals that could make it harder than ever for the media to hold the powerful to account.

But if the press does not investigate politicians’ wrongdoing, who will? Judging by their current behaviour, it is unlikely to be MPs themselves. — The Telegraph

*****

Stakeholders must share blame

F Dynamic of sectarianism in Pakistan Dr Raja Muhammad Khan Email: drmk_edu@yahoo.com

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yed Amir Ali, an Islamic scholar, politician and a great Muslim leader of the United India wrote in his illustrious book, ‘The Spirit of Islam’ “Alas! that the religion of humanity and universal brotherhood should not have escaped the internecine strife and discord; that the faith which was to bring peace to the distracted world should itself be torn to pieces by angry passions and the lust of power.” If I have to summarise the Islamic teachings, the crux would be, the best among the human beings are those, whose mere existence is beneficial for the other human beings. This indeed is the real teaching of Islam. There should be no division or difference of opinion on this pure philosophy of Islam. If Islam gives such a message of peace, love and respect for the humanity, why should its believers become inhuman towards each other?

This means that, those Muslims involved in the violence against each other on the basis of sects or difference of opinion have gone offtrack from the basic teaching of their religion and belief; the Islam.

What to talk of killing each other, Islam does not allow killing the people of other believes or none believers except once there is a declared war. Even during the war, it forbids killings of old age people, children, women and those who are not attacking the Muslims. How

ollowing the unfortunate deaths of at least 120 people in the blaze that engulfed a garment factory in Bangladesh, what must be highlighted is that such dangers will be an unfortunate fact of life while the garment industry continues to mushroom to meet the ceaseless demands of manufacturers from all over the world.

This attitude must change with some serious prohibitive measures put in place so that such incidents do not happen again. The international corporate giants, that factories in Bangladesh cater to, take the finished products — which they buy for a pittance from the manufacturers — and sell them for huge profits. They are bound by law in their countries to ensure the well-being of their employees by providing them with an environment that is safe and secure. It is therefore incumbent upon them to be at least be morally responsible for the well-being of their distributors abroad.

This can be done by extending their policies abroad and entering into agreements with factory owners and local authorities. The company that was gutted had received a ‘high risk’ safety rating after a process of ‘ethical sourcing’ done by a multinational company. They did not specify what led to that rating, but there was a disaster waiting to happen. And it did. All stakeholders — factory owners, local authorities and the international clients — must share proportionate blame. The livelihoods of thousands has now been affected. — Gulf News Everything is good when it leaves the Creator’s hands; everything degenerates in the hands of man.

—Jean J Rousseau French philosopher

US economy & ‘fiscal cliff’ Voice of the People Fauzia Qureshi Email: fauzia_786@yahoo.com

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resident Obama has won the second Presidential term de spite painful slow economic growth, high unemployment and widespread unease about the country’s future. As hard fought as the campaign was, the task of governing a dividing country is even more difficult. Not to mention, the political racism that figured significantly in Mr Obama’s re-election.

The foreign tests that await Obama as he tries to juggle America’s Foreign Policy especially in the Middle East, it has yet to be seen if Mr Obama can meet up these daunting challenges?

President Obama’s victory was over shadowed by the bitter reality that he was to lead a nation that was divided from Maine to San Francisco, Miami to Fairbanks, Long Island to the Islands of Hawaii. However, the immediate challenge facing Obama is to help defuse a fiscal time bomb that’s set to go off at the end of the year, before the next presidential term begins. It is estimated that more than $570 billion worth of tax increases and spending cuts are scheduled to kick in automatically. This will po-

tentially send the economy back into recession. The ‘Fiscal cliff’ is the product of America’s repeated failure to come up with a credible longterm plan for closing the enormous federal budget gap caused by the recession, two wars and the Bush tax cuts. Though avoiding this disaster would require Democrats and Republicans to compromise over issues that have tied Congress in knots. Even if the fiscal cliff is avoided, the government would be faced with a massive debt load of $16.2 trillion and a deficit that has topped $ 1 trillion a year for four years running. Debt rating agencies like Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have warned that the US faces a possible downgrade this year if it doesn’t get the deficit under control.

Though Mr Obama claims to be the first African-American president who has brought together an impressive coalition of black, white and Latino voters, the truth is otherwise.

The fact remains that he is still a ‘Negre’ and most of the Republican voters expressed their deep concern with ‘black’ claims to political inclusion and leadership. This political racism can be traced back 150 years to the time of Reconstruction, when African-Americans won citizenship rights, the right to vote and contest for power where they had previously been enslaved. The repercussions of

political racism are ever present and the campaigns of both parties showed an obsessive concern with the fate of the ‘middle class,’ an artificially homogenized category mostly coded white, while resolutely refusing to address the deepening morass of poverty, marginality and limited opportunity that disproportionately engulfs African-American and Latino communities. Infact, the election returns of Obama indicate a drop in his share of the white vote, especially the vote of white men. So, the attitude that black people don’t belong in American political society may have died hard, but is not dead.

As far as the American Foreign Policy is concerned, be it a Republican or a Democrat, it more or less remains the same. The Jewish Lobby in the US is the ‘King Maker.’ Surprisingly, this time they had backed Mitt Romney, Obama’s opponent, and therefore, Obama’s victory was put to immediate test in the shape of Israel’s blatant attack on innocent Palestinians. Obama showed his incapacity to act by not even having the guts to condemn this Israeli brutal barbarianism. The message is loud and clear-No matter who may be the American President, he/she remains subservient to Israeli commands. Any rhetoric that there may be a change in Obama’s Foreign Policy is a wish-

ful thinking as he, for present, is to pursue those policies vis-à-vis other States. President Obama has had a weak record on human rights and he openly now embraces the concept of a global ‘war on terror’ as grounds to override international human rights norms. He broke his first term promise to close down illegal Guantanamo prison and it seems unlikely to be done so in the future. It seems that the US foreign policy is being reoriented to promote American economic interests as they believe, now, that their ‘global leadership depends on their economic strength.’

The question remains whether President Obama would be able to meet all the challenges in his second term? Would he be able to convince Israel to accept Palestinian Authority and become a member of the United Nations? Would he be able to dodge the fiscal cliff, which not only threatens the US economy but the world economy as well? The fact remains that Obama’s second term would be faced with economic and political turbulence. This is automatically going to have dominos affect on all its global trading partners. So, its high time that all who have stacked their wealth in dollars to re-evaluate the fate of dollar and the US crumbling economy.

‘A judge never on leave’ Faiqa Abdul Hayee Email: faiqaabdulhaye@hotmail.com

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n Oct 25thSupreme Court Judgment became the basis for huge reduction in the price of CNG is a pleasant surprise for the common people coinciding with Eid. Buying new clothes, animals for sacrifice has become more difficult and many people could no longer afford such luxury. The adverse economic situation and the rising levels of poverty is a major problem for the country. The rising fares of airlines, trains and buses further exacerbated the situation by making it more difficult for the people to see their loved ones.

At such a time, it was only Supreme Court who felt about the miseries of the common man, since CNG being a cheaper fuel is the natural choice of middle and lower middle income group. This was promoted during the tenure of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The transporters also use CNG as a fuel. The unfair business practices such as extracting the operational costs from

the poor consumers was not noticed but allowed the concerned government authorities and this became a lucrative business as the rate of return is too high. It is often argued that Supreme Court interferes in executive authority, but to all such critics one question needs to be asked, Why only Supreme Court cared for the common people, why did the executive never took notice of these practices, why it was only yesterday that the Secretary Petroleum took action? Such indifference and inaction on the part of the executive is not desirable.

But this is not the first time, that Supreme Court took notice of something that affects common people. Under the dynamic, wise and courageous leadership of Iftikhar Chauhdary, several historic judgments have been passed. The list of those judgments is exhaustive, but few such decisions include reimbursement of funds to Hajis where an amount of 470 million rupees was returned to about 25000 Hujjaj. This amount was charged from them towards rent but they were not provided accommodation and were made to suffer the agony

of non-accommodation. Who were the beneficiaries of this decision….The common people who were exploited and defrauded by the ruling government’s minister. Take the example of pensioners, prior to Supreme Court’s decision in 2011 only selective banks were entertaining the pensioners to receive their pension. The quality of service was very poor. These people who stand in long lines to get their pension have served the government of Pakistan over their lifetimes and they were not even treated with respect at the end of their service careers.

They were made to wait for long hours before their pension was given to them, but their plight remained unnoticed till the Supreme Court came to their relief.

Yet another case is of the “Khwaja Saras”. They are human beings and God’s creation. Wasn’t it a historic judgment that NADRA was instructed to make their Identity Cards?? The state didn’t realized in 63 years to do anything for them. Only the Supreme Court realized the importance of this humanitarian issue, but who benefited from this judgment? An op-

pressed class of citizens of this country. The list of decisions is too long to be reproduced here, but one thing which is common is the underlying spirit behind such decisions. The beneficiaries are the common people, who are oppressed in different ways and no door is open for them.

In the entire career Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdary never took a day off and worked 99.99%. He only took one leave in his career when his health did not permit him to come to office. A gracious lady Mohtarma Rasheeda begum and a hard working individual Chaudary Jan Mohammad were very lucky parents to have a son like Iftikhar Chaudary who is doing much more than what he was expected to do. How fortunate were the parents of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudary that their son is moving with lumens following the footstep of greatest personality and his true followers in his everyday working. Whenever the history of Pakistan will be written, the name of Iftikhar Chaudary will always be remembered by generations to come.

Views From Abroad

A splintered Syrian revolt David Ignatius

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he Syrian opposition took a big step forward this month by forming a broad political coalition that includes local activists who started the revolution. But the opposition’s military command is still a mess, and until it’s fixed, jihadist extremists will keep getting more powerful. As I wrote after my trip inside Syria in early October, a stronger command-and-control structure is crucial in creating an opposition force that can accomplish two essential tasks: defeating President Bashar alAssad and maintaining order in Syria after he falls. The United States had encouraged the rebels to form provincial “military councils” to achieve better coordination. But the rebel forces have continued to splinter in recent weeks.

Talking with some of the Free Syrian Army activists who arranged my trip into Syria, I’ve heard examples of the chaos caused by bypassing the military council (MC) structure. Maj. Mohammed Ali and

Maj. Maher Noaimi, two rebel commanders from Hama, are said to be receiving money directly from gulf nations. “Ali and Noaimi are still serving as middlemen for all sorts of folks, and they’re working outside the MCs,” complained one report last month to the State Department about the confused funding. Another example is Sheik Adnan Mohammed alAroor, an extremist cleric from Hama who receives money from Saudi Arabia and appears often on Arab television. He is said to have undercut the military councils’ coordination in northern Syria. The United States have urged the Saudis to cut support for Aroor, but activists say that his followers remain potent on the ground.

A third example of confusion cited by rebel sources is the Farouk battalion, originally from Homs, which controls major northern border crossings into Syria. This group is said to have especially strong support from Turkey that allows it to operate outside the military council structure. Most dangerous of all is the continuing growth of extremist Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda-linked group

that receives funding from wealthy individuals in the gulf. One example of the destructive, sectarian role played by Jabhat al-Nusra is that its fighters are said to have attacked Kurdish rebels recently in Ras al-Ain, in northeastern Syria. The extremist group’s influence is also growing because its fighters, eager for martyrdom, are the toughest.

Syrian activists warn that chaos will continue until the various governments that support the opposition pool their money and disseminate it through the provincial councils. “Stop asking us to unify until you unify yourselves,” a Syrian activist warned a US official recently. The United States plans to step up its work with key opposition backers — such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and France — to build a stronger command structure. US officials applaud the efforts of several military council commanders who have tried to foster unity, such as Col. AbdulJabbar Akidi in Aleppo, Col. Afif Suleiman in Idlib and Gen. Ziad alFahd and Col. Khalid Alhoubos in Damascus. One key role for these councils is to broaden the opposition

beyond its Sunni jihadist roots.

Akidi, for example, is said to have twice met recently with a Syrian Christian bishop in Aleppo to assure Christians that they will be safe if the opposition wins. “If this is the future, we can work with it,” the bishop reportedly said afterward.

Unfortunately, the rebel military council leadership was not included in the Doha effort. Military leaders such as Akidi thought they would be invited, but the invitations never came. US and Syrian sources agree that to create military unity, the CIA will have to push friendly intelligence services to pool funding and other support behind a unified command. US officials hope that process will happen over the next month, but rebel leaders fear that this could be too late. A coherent, non-extremist military structure is crucial, finally, because it could provide the path for an eventual settlement that halts all-out sectarian war. Otherwise, this will be a fight to the death between Assad’s goons and radical jihadists — with poor Syria shattered in the process.

— Courtesy: The Washington Post

New healing..!

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om came over to my home.

He walked with a pro nounced limp, dragging his leg behind him, his right hand hanging useless at his side. He sat down and his eyes were wet with tears.

“Why doesn’t God heal me?” he asked bitterly. “Why should He?” I asked. “You don’t believe God can heal?” “Of course I do,” I said, “but why should He heal you?” “Because I ask for healing day and night. Ask my wife. I get up in the morning and spend an hour in

prayer, same in the afternoon and in the evening. Sometimes when I can’t get sleep at midnight too.”

“So it’s not for lack of asking that you are not healed” I said matter of factly. “That’s what I mean,” said Tom, “so why doesn’t God heal me?

I wonder whether He is punishing me for something I have done?” “Have you asked His forgiveness for whatever you have done?” I asked. “Yes,” said Tom nodding vigorously. “Then I doubt that’s the reason.” I said. “So what’s the reason?” he asked angrily.

“I think of God as a father,” I said. “ And sometimes in our role as earthly fathers we can try to understand Him a little.” “Shoot,” said Tom nodding his head a little, wondering where this conversation was going. “We earthly fathers,” I said, “want the best for our

children, don’t we?” Tom nodded his head even more vigorously, “but we also want our children to be the best,” “Sure,” said Tom, who was also a father of three little children. “Best means strong.” “Sure it does,” said Tom again. “Are you strong Tom?” “What d’you mean?” he asked. “Ever since you had the stroke, have you become a stronger person or weaker man. Have you worked at limp leg and useless hand, pushing muscle to move with movement and exercise or have you sat at home whining and crying?”

“I have prayed.” “Cried to God, would be a better phrase,” I said. “If you as a father saw your toddler trying to stand what would you do?

Would you pick him up and carry him for the rest of your life? And thereby make a cripple of him? You would

have to watch him crawl for the rest of his life because he never learnt to stand.” “What are you trying to say?” asked Tom uncertainly. “That God the Father wants you to stop whining like a baby and start making efforts to move on.”

“He wants me to stand? To walk?” “Maybe not in the same manner you have been walking till now,” I said. “Do you think you can move forward in life despite the limp? To hold onto a dream with a useless hand?” I saw him this morning, he was downstairs early, struggling to exercise one leg after the other, moving torturously, slowly forward, but there was a gleam in the eye, and a determination on face.

I felt God look down with pride..!

—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Two notables mourned ASGHAR MAHMOOD

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highly respected journalist and columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee breathed his last at the age of 86 in Karachi before Ashura day (Saturday). Mr. Iqbal Haider, an illustrious son of Karachi also called it a day, a few weeks ago. Seen retrospectively, an Islamabad -based darvesh had predicted not long ago that a respectable personality will fade out of national scene. It is sad that not one but two national personalities have left us in quick succession. Both of them belonged to Karachi, but in a way they were national figures. Late Ardeshir Cowasjee was a remarkable individual, in professional as well as personal life. Iqbal Haider was a tireless worker in the domain of human rights and liberites.

Their fans will miss them. Another important prediction of the darvesh is that a lady will rule the country for a long time.

—Islamabad

Suggestion for mobile companies NAYLA KHAN I have suggestion, about balance reversal facility, for higher management of relevant departments of cellular companies. Its an observation that while recharging balance from retailer ,if number told to retailer is not correct ,balance is transferred to wrong number and retailer does not inform customer that this transferred balance to incorrect number can be reversed ,customer is informed that such balance can not be reverted. So customer recharges again on his/ her own number by paying amount again for next attempt.when such customer leaves ,retailer gets back that balance.

Suggestion Mobile companies must force the retailers to paste a notice on wall of shop that “ balance transferred to wrong number can be reverted back”. With details ,notice must be copy of “information chapter and customers’ cognizance” from mobile companies.

—Lahore

Violence against women TAHIRA MUSHTAQ Sunday was the day to mark International Day on the Elimination of Violence against Women, yet we see that with each passing year the ratio of this violence is continuously rising. According to the report “Incidents of Violence against Women in 2011” by Aurat Foundation, 2341 females were killed in the name of honor, 8096 females were kidnapped and the registered cases of domestic violence were 1985, which showed 25 % increase from the last year. It is quite shocking. Violence against women also takes place in developed countries.

However in Pakistan it is more problematic as there is no system to redress this issue effectively.

Enough said about the state’s responsibility to protect women against violence, yet violence committed on the domestic level keeps on increasing. This issue can be solved by bringing awareness on domestic level. It is the responsibility of every individual present in every home to provide protection and respect to the female members.

Above all it is the duty of all those privileged females who can have influence on the under-privileged females of the society to make sure that they never let any female get verbally or physically abused.

I believe and others may disagree, that nobody would give these privileged females the role of a torch-bearer, as this role is given to them by nature by placing them in a more respectable place in society. It is their prime responsibility to stand up and say no to all forms of violence against their fellow women. Together these voices will turn into a force that would be hard to ignore or sideline.

—Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir

Education neglected in Sindh HASHIM ABRO Sindh has a long rich tradition of education especially in theology, philosophy, philology, and musicology. For centuries, various cities of Indus valley civilization such as Thatto, Arore, Rohri, Sehwan, Pir jo goth etc. and its erudite scholars have served as custodians and keepers of knowledge. The most remarkable thing about ancient Sindh, even before the partition of subcontinent, education was the fact that in most cases teachers were unpaid professional who chose to be teachers for its intrinsic value.

Hindu, Parsi and teachers from other religious minorities were on volunteerism. We believe that he fundamental prerequisite to any intellectual endeavor is independent critical thinking. Educational institutions used to enrich tradition of independent critical thinking.

For quite some, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, continued this noble tradition of promoting critical thinking and intellectualiza-

tion. It produced towering intellectuals , creative thinkers and writers but unfortunately, nowadays this prestigious varsity has fallen on its evil days and our ruling elite is indifferent to its state of affairs and loss of education. Whenever I travel to my home province and visit various villages in different upper Sindh district I do not witness any change there.

These days have also witnessed a significant decline in the education system of the province.

The system has failed miserably to keep up with demand. The present government has not made any pragmatic attempt to improve children’s education. Misguided policies have caused very few children to receive an education. Our rulers have not tried to improve the school system in the province. Literacy and enrollment rates are still low. The government has not revised its curriculum so as to make education more practical and relevant to children’s lives.

Before the educational system in upper and lower Sindh regions gets better, there are many factors that need to be addressed and improved.

Sindh government must change the importance of education in their social structure, and children should be encouraged and required to attend school and become educated.

This would not only improve the level of awareness in the province and the opportunity for advancement but also it would improve many other aspects of Sindhi society.

However, the present rulers and relevant authorities are requested to revive and promote this noble principle which reads as “”let the educated teach and let the uneducated learn” in the Sindhi society and also make genuine efforts for the promotion of distance education in the province so as to promote literary and education in today’s resourcesrich but deprived and denied Sindh province.

—Islamabad

Muharram in Gaza ALI ASHRAF KHAN The Israeli air force for more than 60 hours has been bombarding the Gaza strip with a short break only during the visit of Egyptian Prime Minister, who had come to defuse the situation from escalating to visit the victims of Israel’s recent aggression in hospitals in Gaza. Muslims all over the world are enraged to see the complicity of Muslim rulers in this hour of Israeli genocide? Even Egyptian Prime Minister was shocked to see the wounds of the civilians hit by Israel bombs calling it an outright aggression.

After he left Gaza the air strikes continued full blast with the declared aim to destroy Hamas military installations and especially those ramps from where Hamas is launching the long-range missiles and ‘teach them a lesson’ as to who is the boss.

The very fact that Hamas despite the ceaseless pounding of Israeli air force managed to launch 340 missiles some of them reaching the heart of Israel is in a way a victory for Hamas and it will create respect and admiration for them. It clearly shows that an Israeli ground attack will not be a Sunday walk along the beach and given Hamas resolve by people of Gaza who will close the lines behind them and join Hamas in the final fight: if we have to die let’s die fighting. Not caring for US Congress extending support to Israeli aggression, which exposes the real face of perpetrators of genocide and war crimes. Muslim leaders not supporting Hamas at this point of time will face the consequences after an ultimate resolution of the crises.

This is more so that the time chosen by Israeli for this aggression is the month of Muharram when Shias and many Muslims remember the sacrifice of Imam Hussein against the forces of evil that is until today inspiring Muslims to do the same. One outcome of the current crisis might be not only a closing of the ranks between Hamas and the Palestinian population; it might result in a closing of ranks in the Arab world as such.

The so-called Arab spring has brought governments into power that hardly can turn their backs on the conflict in Palestine. The Egyptian

president Mursi has made this clear and the Tunisian Foreign Minister has not only condemned Israel but said; “What Israel is doing is not legitimate and is not acceptable at all,” The emergency meeting of the Arab League today will show the direction the future course could take.

Hamas has to its credit the visit of the Amir of Qatar and the financial support he had promised to them. It is the new leading power in Palestine. All other Muslim countries of the world will have to come forward and put pressure on US to stop Israel from committing genocide by attacking and killing women and children otherwise OIC should unanimously condemn US and Israel and pass resolutions of war crimes in their parliaments. UN Security Council is a toothless lion that only works as a second fiddler to United States.

—Via email

Medicines or death call SANAULLAH ATTIQUE Heartbreakingly, it is bad news indeed as dozens of cough patients have been halted under toxic attack of cough syrup at Lahore. Actually, in Pakistan it is very depressing situation as repeatedly such incidents’ have taken place. Health and hygiene conditions are under miserable threats due to utter negligence both medically and professionally. Especially, continuous pulls and pushes in various medicines had created fear about validation of available medicines. Actually, medicine syrup is almost expensive for millions of people due to poverty and after getting treatment somewhere it also become juicy poison when it snatches lives in name of cure.

In Lahore nearly 100 heart patients died in January 2012 due to faulty medicine. And, it has shocked whole country especially heart patients using such medicine. So, it is another sad saga consider about such wrong happenings’.

President has recently signed a very comprehensive document guiding both professionals and authorities to combat against complex issues relevant to illegal usage of medicine. It is onus upon doctors to fight professionally against such cheap medicines and never ever recognized or prescribed as a treatment to patient.

Repeated sad occurrences demand National campaign to provide nation with huge information, proper usage of drug, to know about expired medicines all relevant matters should ministry of health through media and involving every citizen through goal oriented messages in pamphlets.

—Islamabad

Effective security plan DR SAIF UR REHMAN All sections of society including media harshly cristicised Rehman Malik for his security plan for Ashura. Newspapers editorials were captioned as disgusting security plan. But Rehman Malik set aside all reservations and furore and he got a go-ahead with his security plan for Ashura because he was well aware that terrorists use modern gagdets i.e celluar phones, hence he suspended celluar services in fifty cities to stop terrorism on the occasion ashura. It was best available option.

By his strategy many innocent pakistani souls remained safe and I would like to thank Dr A. Rehman Malik and applaud him too. Honorary doctorate degree was rightly awarded to him for his matchless services to the country in the war on terror and restoring peace to the citizens of Pakistan in general. He has done well for nation. Congratulations Dr. A. Rehman Malik.

—Islamabad

READERS are requested to type their letters legibly with double spacing and only on one side of the paper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

Morsi’s power grab tests US post-revolt tolerance GUY TAYLOR

E

GYPTIAN President Mohammed Morsi’s power grab presents a unique opportunity for the Obama administration to take a firm position on what the United States will tolerate from post-Arab Spring governments, foreignpolicy analysts say. Meanwhile, on the eve of a mass demonstration against him, Mr. Morsi told his country’s highest court on Monday that he did not usurp its authority when he claimed near-absolute power to change laws and issue judicial decrees last week. What’s happening in Egypt is “a critical test of how Islamist parties behave in power,” said Robert M. Danin, a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Safer Shehata, who teaches Arab politics at Georgetown University, said the U.S. “should not be quiet or silent about moves that threaten a democratic transition to democracy.” He added that the U.S. also should avoid appearing as a bully on the subject. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mr. Morsi is Egypt’s first popularly elected president, but his decree late Thursday sparked angry protests across the nation that have left one person dead and hundreds injured.

Many fear the country might regress to the authoritarianism of longtime former president Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown amid a popular uprising in February 2011.

The Obama administration has been cautious in referring to the situation and the Egyptian president, who announced his new pow-

ers after helping to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Monday said the administration is “encouraged” by reports that Mr.

gional stability and peace.” “It seems that, intentionally or not, the message Morsi took from Hillary Clinton is that stability trumps democracy,” said Michael R. Rubin, a resident scholar focusing on the Middle East at

“an opportunity to develop and define a new relationship where that’s no longer the bargain,” he said, adding that how Washington

possibilities for real democratic institutions to develop in the Arab world,” Mr. Danin said.

Mr. Shehata said the Obama administration’s

conducts itself in response to Mr. Morsi’s power grab will have regional consequences.

“The way in which these issues are sorted out now is very important, not just for Egypt but for the region, especially as others look to Egypt as a critical test of the future and

plight is complicated by the fact that “the United States is not looked at very favorably by the majority of Egyptians since in the past it was seen as supporting an authoritarian regime.”

—Courtesy - Washington Time

Mr. Morsi has said his action is a temporary means to implement reforms and ensure Egypt’s shift to democracy, and that he will relinquish his new powers after a new constitution is enacted and parliamentary elections are held sometime next year. But Egypt’s Supreme Judiciary Council has called his move an “assault” on the judiciary, and the opposition has denounced his action and called for a massive protest in Cairo on Tuesday.

Morsi had entered into a “dialogue” with opposition figures, but that U.S. officials are “not going to prejudge where that’s going to go.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton voiced concerns during a phone call Monday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, Mrs. Nuland said, refusing to characterize Mr. Morsi’s actions as undemocratic or say that they may disqualify Egypt from U.S. aid. The circumspect nature of the administration’s posture has discomfited some foreign-policy analysts, who suggest that Mrs. Clinton may have inadvertently encouraged Mr. Morsi’s action last week.

Appearing Wednesday in Cairo, Mrs. Clinton thanked the Egyptian president for his “personal leadership” in de-escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence. She went on to say that “Egypt’s new government is assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of re-

the American Enterprise Institute.

“What Morsi has done is show the Muslim Brotherhood’s true colors,” Mr. Rubin said. “All this talk of democracy was just manna for the useful idiots outside of Egypt.”

While Mr. Morsi’s decree may appear to be driven by Muslim Brotherhood desires to impose Shariah, or Islamic law, across Egypt, others suggest that what’s more troubling to Egyptians is the prospect of a return to the authoritarian era. With that in mind, Mr. Danin of the Council on Foreign Relations said the Obama administration risks missing an opportunity to redefine Washington’s relationship with Cairo, which had been warped and misguided during Mr. Mubarak’s reign.

Egypt’s authoritarian era was marked by “an unspoken deal,” in which U.S. leaders would ignore Mr. Mubarak’s autocratic ways as his regime worked toward facilitating U.S. foreign-policy goals in the region, Mr. Danin said. The overthrow of Mr. Mubarak created

Weeds of change

Something new for China?

MICHAEL BOSKIN

P

OLITICAL leadership transi tions typically signal either a change in direction or conti nuity. But the mere prospect of such a transition usually postpones some important political decisions and freezes some economic activity, pending the resolution of the accompanying uncertainty. China’s decennial leadership transition, culminating at the Chinese Communist Party’s 18th Congress, is a case in point. And, while many will remember when a Chinese leadership transition was a political and cultural curiosity that had few direct economic implications for the world’s major powers, those days are long gone.

China is now the world’s secondlargest economy, and, despite a recent slowdown to 7 percent annual GDP growth, it is outperforming all other major players. It remains the vital assembly center of the global supply chain for many manufactured goods, such as computers and cell phones, enabling lower prices for the world’s consumers. That has made China a key trade partner for the United States, most European countries and many other economies, in addition to placing it at the center of intra-Asian trade and supply-chain dynamics. Moreover, China sits on roughly $3.3 trillion in foreignexchange reserves — much of it in dollars, but also in other major currencies — owing to its large trade surplus in recent decades. It helps to finance other countries’ trade deficits and domestic investment (many of its beneficiaries have large budget deficits that decrease national saving below domestic investment).

Deng Xiaoping’s reforms ignited the most rapid economic improvement in human history and, with it, the emergence of a large and growing middle class. That makes China an important market opportunity for a broad range of foreign firms — including car producers, technology suppliers, financial institutions, energy companies and agricultural exporters. And Chinese firms — too often state-owned — are seeking greater investment opportunities abroad in major industries, particularly energy. A byproduct of China’s spectacular growth has been rising economic tensions with other countries.

China’s exchange-rate policy and its bilateral trade surplus with the U.S. were major issues in America’s presidential election, and concerns over Chinese foreign investment are ubiquitous. The World Trade Organization upheld America’s duties on Chinese tires, and Canada has extended its review of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s bid to acquire Nexen, a Canadian oil and gas producer. Despite China’s WTO membership, many foreign companies face restrictions on expanding in China or must cooperate with

a Chinese company.

The Chinese, for their part, complain about foreign trade practices and are taking some cases (for example, a long-running dispute with the European Union over solar panels) to the WTO, where cases brought against China by other countries are proliferat-

Opening markets to greater competition and rebalancing the roles of government and markets is the most promising strategy to achieve high-income status in the coming decades.

It would be hard to find a better framework for Xi and Li as they put their imprint on China’s economic policy. In particular, Chinese consumption as a share of GDP is very low by international standards and relative to the historical experience of other countries at a similar stage of development. ing. All sides, however, must bear in mind that China is too important to the global economy and trading system to allow these disputes to spin out of control. Meanwhile, China’s economic slowdown — the result of global weakness and efforts to cool the country’s inflation and overheated asset markets — threatens to slow the pace of job creation for the millions moving annually from rural poverty to greater prosperity in China’s expanding urban areas. And it comes at a time when the

pace of market opening and reduction of state control has slowed, following substantial reforms under former President Jiang Zemin and former Premier Zhu Rongji. While outgoing President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao struck reformist chords in public statements and in China’s 12th Five-Year Plan, many inside China including, reportedly, Jiang are disappointed.

Thus, incoming President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang are being watched closely for signs of what they will do. It is rare for a successor in business or government to usurp the cur-

CIELITO F HABITO

B

rent leader’s lame-duck status by tipping his hand, so no one can yet say with any certainty whether the new leadership will push for a reformist leap forward or seek to maintain the status quo.

In addition to a new president and premier, other members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo have been

IG money is about to descend once again upon the media industry, if it hasn’t already. Election campaign seasons always bring the industry a windfall, via both legitimate political ads and illicit payments to buy favourable coverage from members of the press. The magnitudes are now so staggering that in the last election year of 2010, the recreational services sector, which includes the broadcast industry, leaped from the previous year by a zooming 30.4 per cent in our gross domestic product (GDP) accounts. To show how unusual this was, the growth rate stabilised back to 7.2 per cent in 2011, and had ranged from only 3 to 11 per cent in the past decade (with that previous peak also posted in the election year of 2007).

But it’s not only politicians who pay the media, legitimately or otherwise. Business interests promoting their particular product, or lobbying for or against a particular policy (sin taxes being the latest example), are known to pay big bucks to get their way. And like the handlers of politicians, their public relations units know the tricks of the trade only too well

named and a vast array of ministerial positions are being filled. With China’s “up or out” system for senior leaders, those who are not promoted will be replaced. From the new governor of the People’s Bank of China to the Cabinet and leading regulators, the new cohort has an opportunity to move China forward by promoting competition, decreasing the power of state enterprises, boosting household consumption and reducing reliance on exports.

Earlier this year, the China Devel-

opment Research Center of the State Council and the World Bank issued an excellent report on opportunities for, and challenges to, China’s policy agenda. They concluded that China should complete its transition to a market economy with land, labor, financial and enterprise reforms. Managers, workers, consumers, investors and governments in every corner of the world, many reeling from their own economic problems, have a lot riding on China’s new leadership navigating reform sensibly.

—Courtesy - Japan Times

NEHA SAIGAL

T

HE importance of agriculture cannot be over emphasised in an agrarian country such as India that faces the challenge of alleviating crippling poverty. The approach paper to the 12th Five Year Plan notes: “Growth in agriculture is at least two to three times more effective in reducing poverty than the same magnitude of growth emanating from nonagriculture sector.” The same paper also notes that agriculture is an important component of faster and more inclusive sustainable growth. But sadly, the central character of Indian agriculture, the farmer, is forever burdened by ever-increasing cost of cultivation, over-dependence on industry for agricultural input and lack of adequate government policy support.

Unfortunately for the Indian farmer, real long term sustainable solutions remain a dream as the agro-input industry and its cronies in the government are using every opportunity to push through false solutions that are only profitable to the company and not the farmer. One such delusional ‘solution’ proposed is herbicide-tolerant (HT) genetically modified (GM) crops peddled by multinational biotech seed companies which they insist works wonders for weed management. The technology of genetic modification has been deployed to create HT crops wherein the plant develops the capability to withstand herbicides without getting destroyed. For instance, in case of Roundup Ready GM crops (the brand name for Monsanto’s trait of herbicide tolerant GM crops), a gene from Agrobacterium strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS), that is resistant to glyphosate (a chemical compound in Monsanto herbicides) is inserted.

Over-simplification of weed management with the promise of reduction of toxic herbicides by biotechnology companies that are into both the business of trait/seed development and agro-chemicals, had attracted farmers in the North and South America. Thus, today, three fourths of the world’s GM crops are herbicide tolerant and most of the HT trait is incorporated into Monsanto’s proprietary seed sold under the brand-name Round-up Ready GM crops. But after 16 years of the introduction of HT crops in North and South America, horror stories of their impacts on health and environment are coming to the fore. Increased usage of herbicides such as glyphosate has been associated with birth defects, abnormalities in vital reproductive hormones as well as cancers.

It is important for the decision makers in India to factor in all these experiences as HT crops are in various stages of open-field trials in the country and there is also a push to commercialise

HT-GM crops. Most importantly, Indian farmers are about to be put through another treadmill technology that will further add to the country’s agrarian crisis. Recently Dr Charles Benbrook, an agricultural economist based in the USA, published a peerreviewed study on 16 years of HT crops in that country. The evidence presented in his study is a strong reminder that HT-GM crops and GM crops are in general no panacea for farmers and the agrarian crisis. Dr

The increased use of glyphosate not only resulted in increased cost for the American farmer but the monopoly of companies such as Monsanto on seeds also caused an increase in seed prices. For example, the cost of conventional corn seed purchased in the USA in 2010 comprised 11 per cent of the farmers’ gross income but cost of corn seed purchased from Monsanto or DowAgro Sciences comprised 23 of the farmers’ income in the same year.

Dr Benbrook also highlights that an

Benbrook’s study highlights the struggles faced by the farmer’s heavy reliance on HT-GM crops and the glyphosate-based herbicides that has caused glyphosate-resistant weeds to

overall increase in the usage of glyphosate has played a huge role in altering the American landscape and biodiversity for the worse. This should be a wakeup call for Indian lawmakers

Very recently, the technical expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to look into the matter of field trials of GM crops furnished its interim report last month with a recommendation for a moratorium on field trials of HT-GM crops until an independent committee had examined and assessed their potential impacts as well as their suitability in the Indian context. abound, resulting in an increase in the cost of farm production. In 1996-97, when companies such as Monsanto promised farmers that there would be no glyphosate-resistant weeds, Dr Ian Heap, long-time manager of the International Survey on Herbicide Resistant Weeds (ISHRW), US, had warned of weeds getting resistant to glyphosate in the absence of resistance-management plans. It comes as no surprise that today, the ISHRW lists 23 glyphosate-resistant weed species across the US, which has only driven the cost of weed management upward.

The facts don’t stop there: owing to increasing resistance to glyphosate, farmers are now being forced to use a cocktail of lethal herbicides such as the infamous Agent Orange (used by the US military during the Vietnam War) to control weeds.

The economics of media integrity including anything from free rides and trips, raffles where everyone wins a valuable prize, free product samples “for review,” lavish gifts, and up to regular deposits made to one’s ATM bank account (rendering the phrase “envelopmental journalism” passé, giving way to the new de rigueur tag of “ATM journal-

Together with transparency champion Vince Lazatin, I was tasked to trigger discussion on the question “How can we push media corruption out of the market?” We posited that media ethics and integrity (or lack of it) are basically a cost-benefit proposition. While usually an economist’s tool, cost-benefit analy-

gregate/public level and the individual/personal level. At the public level, what does it benefit society to have a professional, independent and honest media? I can think of at least three social benefits. First is upholding the truthabout public policy issues and about individuals or objects. This presupposes that

Unfortunately, the cost-benefit balance is dramatically different at the personal level for the media practitioner. The benefits of maintaining one’s integrity include personal fulfillment and a clean conscience, uncompromised integrity and respect from others, high stature in the profession (perhaps), and (hopefully) greater marketability and with it, higher (formal) compensation. The last two are not even assured, and the first two, as they say, are hindi nakakain (cannot be eaten) when the media worker’s primary concern may be his/her family’s very survival. ism”). Last weekend saw media practitioners gathering for the 9th Media Nation conference, which has become an annual occasion for selfexamination. It was remarkable in its choice of the highly sensitive theme of corruption in the media.

sis is a universal (often subconscious) principle that governs the choices all of us make fully recognising that not all costs and benefits are measured in pesos and centavos. As for media ethics and integrity, the benefits and costs may be examined at two levels: the ag-

upholding truth is a universally held value that everyone sees as a benefit, at least at the societal level. The truth, after all, guides us to the right choices in life. A second benefit is that of having the “right” public policies prevail. To my mind, “right” policies are those that pro-

who believe that GM crops would work well for India as they had for farmers in the USA! he experience of HT-GM crops in America is also a reassertion of the fact that chemical-based weed control is not a permanent solution. It is also uneconomical to eradicate all weeds as some of them are home to beneficial insects and there is a lot of food and fodder value in weeds, a potential that has not been explored to its fullest and one that never might be if India chooses the HT-GM crops route. In India, one of the biggest socio-economic dangers of introduction of HTGM crops, unlike in the USA, would be the loss of livelihoods of the poorest as the agricultural workforce derives the largest number of employment days from deweeding.

—Courtesy GPF

mote the greatest good for the greatest number (now also fashionably called “inclusive growth”), as against what I call for lack of a better term oligarchy-perpetuating policies. Sin taxes and the competition policy are examples that provoke intense debate and unleash substantial lobby money directed at both policymakers and opinion makers in media.

The third public benefit is attaining a level playing field, against gaining unfair market or electoral advantage that biased reporting can easily achieve for anyone willing to pay the price. among other things, such level playing field in the economy is a basic prerequisite to providing an attractive investment climate for all enterprises domestic or foreign, large or small which in turn promotes wide job-generation. In the arena of politics, better governance will more likely emerge where a level playing field ensures that election results are not driven by money and access to media.

Unfortunately, the cost-benefit balance is dramatically different at the personal level for the media practitioner. The benefits of maintaining one’s integrity include personal fulfillment and a clean conscience.

—Courtesy - Daily Inquirer

France to recognise Palestinian

Fate of Gomal Zam Dam

From Page 1

From Page 1 would be brutally assassinated if the government failed to accept their(Taliban) demands by December 3 2012.

The kidnapped workers were shown in the video, begging official help and requesting the government to accept the TTP demands before the deadline in order to save their lives. One of the kidnapped engineers, Shahid Ali Khan is seen speaking in the video, which has the TTP’s name written in the background, as well as gun-toting men whose faces were not clearly visible.

Though the 46-minute video showed Khan narrating his ordeal in Urdu language and the militants’ demands for their release, however, the nature of their demands remained unknown. Engineer Shahid further said that they were recording the video on November 23, 2012 and the deadline for acceptance of the TTP demands is December 3 2012 and government would have to act promptly failing which they would be brutally murdered. The militants in the past mercilessly murdered and even slaughtered the abductees when their demands were not met after the expiry of deadline. Even in the recent past a number of government officials as well as the men in uniform were brutally killed by the Taliban abductors in tribal agencies.

Malik announces From Page 1 awarded rupees 200 million.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, Malik said Ehsan was working for foreign elements and vowed to soon reveal all about the TTP spokesman. The minister added that the TTP was a divided organisation and now constituted of various groups, including the Waliur Rehman faction, the Hakimullah Mehsud group and other small factions. Malik moreover questioned as to what kind of shariah the TTP spokesman wanted to enforce in the country which legitimised the killings of innocent civilians and sanctioned suicide bombings.

He said “terrorists” were defaming the religion and shariah for money, adding that, the government had struck a peace agreement with the Taliban in Swat which the latter themselves violated.

bid. Britain’s position remains unclear. Palestinians say they are doing this out of frustration over the four-year deadlock in peace efforts.

They believe an endorsement of their state will bolster their negotiating position. Israel strongly opposes the bid, accusing the Palestinians of trying to bypass negotiations.

The resolution would endorse a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel opposes a pullback to the 1967 lines. As French

lawmakers applauded Tuesday— many of them members or allies of the Socialist-led government — Fabius cautioned against raising Palestinian hopes too high.

“But, but, but, but, but — but at the same time, madame and monsieur lawmakers, we must show in this case a lot of lucidity,” he said.

“On the one hand, because the text is currently being discussed, and I myself had (Palestinian) President Mahmoud Abbas on the phone yesterday morning,” he said. “On the other hand, because — let’s not hide from this — that this question

will be asked at a very delicate moment.”He went on to note the “fragile cease-fire” after the recent deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli election in January, and the upcoming “change in composition of the American administration” — with the United States seen by many as perhaps the most pivotal player in the region.

“In any case, it’s only through negotiations — that we ask for without conditions and immediately between the two sides — that we will be able to reach the realization of a Palestinian state,” Fabius said.—AFP

ECP geared up to hold elections From Page 1 sued. The commission re- the district administration. He jected the plea of Chief Secre- said that the government is LAHORE: Activists of Pasban-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat, PDP and civil society are chanting slogans in favour of their demands tary for postponing the by- agreed on the complete ban on during a protest demonstration. election in Balochistan. the showing of arms or carrying Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said arms while moving during electhat record and data of every tions. He said that it was asked voter is available with the com- the prime minister that all the inmission. He said that the com- stitutions maintaining law and mission has prepared the draft at order should assist the ECP. From Page 1 its own level for legalizing the Earlier, the Chief Election Commission of Pakistan (CEC), day, he condemned the insulting election reforms.

He said that Senate special Fakharuddin G Ibrahim said behaviour of the PPP ministers committee and the commission voter lists have been prepared with the female members of the B R U S S E L S — NATO chief up security on its 900-kilometer Rasmussen said Moscow’s anxi- PML-F, during the last session of would jointly finalize the matter, with the utmost care and any Anders Fogh Rasmussen has border. It has repeatedly ety is not based on legitimate Sindh Assembly. which later on would be sent in mistakes in the lists would soon said the Patriot missiles to be scrambled fighter jets along the concerns.

Senate. Secretary Election Com- be rectified.

He said that since the passing Russia said openly last deployed on the Turkish-Syrian frontier and responded in kind to mission said that Prime Minister He added that the commisof controversial Sindh People’s border to counter threats from stray Syrian shells flying into its Thursday that it opposes the de- Local Government Ordinance and has also been informed of the im- sion would implement all orders ployment of NATO Patriot misSyria will be under NATO con- territory. portant points of the election code issued by the Supreme Court.

Defense Minister Ýsmet siles on Turkey’s border with Act, the people of Sindh have of conduct and the Prime Ministrol.

It was said in the meeting that strongly opposed it and have comRasmussen told the NTV Yýlmaz earlier said NATO’s Eu- Syria, a sign of deepening ten- pletely rejected it, as the same ter was agreed that the venues for candidates would have to follow news channel in an interview on rope Command Control System sions across the region over the amounts to the enforcing of dual election gatherings and proces- all the rules and regulations deTuesday that the Patriot missiles will be the responsible for the Syrian crisis. sions should be determined in vised by the commission during Asked about the financing of administrative system and is advance with the consultations of their rallies and public meetings. will be installed by NATO allies command of the Patriot missiles aimed at creating a state within a and will be under the command and that there are Turkish offi- the missiles, Rasmussen said the state in the province. of NATO’s Air Command and cials in the system. Hüseyin host country will take on the fiNawaz said that this soControl System. “Of course, Tur- Çelik, deputy chairman of the nancial burden. He said the mis- called local government law is an key is a NATO member country,” ruling Justice and Development siles have sufficient deterrence attempt to create a division and Party (AK Party), said in a press capability against any threats in Rasmussen noted. conflict among the people of Turkey formally asked briefing that “Turkey will be the region.

From Page 1 Germany, the Netherlands Sindh. He said that the PPPNATO last Wednesday to deploy holding the trigger.”

MQM government, in the name these remarks while talking to their public meetings and said Rasmussen added that the and the United States, are the missile defense elements on its of reconciliation, has destroyed border with Syria to boost its air alliance won’t hesitate to take only three NATO allies with ap- the peace, governance, social and Secretary Election Commission the Election Commission will defense systems as the conflict “further steps” for the protection propriate Patriot surface-to-air eco-nomic structure of Sindh. He of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiaq permit them to hold meetings in Ahmed Khan here at the PM consultation with the local adin its southern neighbor deepens. of Turkey and that the alliance missile systems available. ministration.

The Patriot missiles de- said, by this new local govern- House.

The move highlights will decide on the request by ment system, excessive and limThe Secretary Election Similarly, rallies and procesAnkara’s fears that the situation Turkey for Patriot missiles ployed to Turkey during the Gulf itless powers have been surrenCommission informed the sions brought out by candidates Wars were provided by the on its border could deteriorate “within days.”

Rasmussen added that a Netherlands. Ankara twice this dered to the mayors of few cit- Prime Minister that a code of will have to follow specified rapidly and echoes its calls for group of NATO experts along year has invoked Article 4 of the ies, which is likely to further de- conduct has also been prepared routes approved by the Election military support during the two teriorate the law and order situaGulf Wars, when NATO de- with Turkish officials are con- NATO charter, which provides tion, particularly in Karachi, by the Election Commission Commission of Pakistan. prohibiting display of weapons Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan also ducting explorations in Turkey to for consultations when a memployed surface-to-air missiles on where thousands of innocent Turkish soil in 1991 and 2003. determine the best sites to deploy ber state feels that its territorial people have been lost in the last during election campaign. The informed the Prime Minister that Prime Minister appreciated the the Election Commission will Turkey formally made the the missiles. Speaking about integrity, political indepen- four years. soon hold meetings with the feddecision. request after weeks of talks with Russia’s concern over the de- dence or security is under He said that the PML (N) has The Secretary briefed the eral and provincial governments NATO allies about how to shore ployment of the Patriot missiles, threat.—Turkish News been and will continue to support Prime Minister that candidates to ensure that the law and order the peaceful political struggle of will have to specify venues of was maintained during polling. the writers, intellectuals, artists, civil society, journalists and the people of Sindh, against the SPLGA, 2012, along with almost all the political parties, and PML From Page 1 (N) Sindh chapter is an active Desert is being converted my country and both the councomponent of the Sindh Bachayo LOS ANGELES—The makers of that a Navy commando unit had Committee (SBC). into blooming flowers and the tries have very cordial and brotha Hollywood movie about the US killed bin Laden in a compound Emirates are giving a look of erly relations. operation to kill Osama bin in Pakistan. modern state in the south of Arab He said UAE using educa“I picked up the phone and Laden denied asking for classipeninsula. tion and other social instruments fied material for their film, but started calling sources and askThe journalists hailing from for peace and stability in the resay they did conduct interviews ing them what they knew and takdifferent countries on Tuesday gion. UAE is working with other with a CIA officer and others at ing referrals and knocking on interacted with some of the top countries to achieve this goal, he the heart of the decade-long hunt doors and really approached it as brass of the government includ- said. comprehensively as I could,” for the al Qaeda leader. ing high-profile Sheikh Nahyan During meeting with in in“It was all based on first- Boal told “Nightline” according P ESHAWAR —The Khyber bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minis- teraction with Sultan Nasser Al hand accounts so it really felt to an advance excerpt.

Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Infor- ter of state for Higher Education Suwaidi, Governor of the Cen“I certainly did a lot of home- mation, Public Relations, Culture and Scientific Research at Sheikh tral Bank said UAE has introvery vivid and very vital and very, very immediate and vis- work, but I never asked for clas- and Transport, Mian Iftikhar Nahyan bin Mubarak’s Palace duced liberal policies and the we ceral of course which is very sified material,” he said. “To my Hussain called on the Governor, where he said UAE has allocated are even allowing other nationexciting as a filmmaker,” knowledge I never received any.” Barrister Masood Kausar at twenty five percent of the na- als to get loans to and start their The release of “Zero Dark Governor’s House, Peshawar on tional budget to education which business in the UAE. Kathryn Bigelow, director of “Zero Dark Thirty,” told ABC Thirty” - seen as a strong con- Tuesday. is highest in the world.

Dr Nawal Al Hosani, News in an interview aired on tender for Oscar nominations When asked about the stu- Driector of Sustainability Masadr He remained with the Govwas pushed back to December ernor for some time and dis- dents of UAE getting admission city while briefing the journalists Monday.

Bigelow and screenwriter after the film got caught up ear- cussed various matters pertaining in Pakistan, he said UAE has sent said UAE is working on a plan Mark Boal said in a “Nightline” lier this year in a US election year to well being of the people of the its students to get training in mili- to use renewable energy sources interview that they were origi- controversy. tary and other fields. Pakistan is for future. province.

The film reconstructs the nally working on a film about the Talking on this occasion, the failed bid to find bin Laden in the hunt for bin Laden largely Governor also referred to the Tora Bora mountains of Afghani- through the eyes of a young fe- FATA Festival being held in the stan during the U.S-led invasion male CIA officer, played by Jes- provincial metropolitan shortly sica Chastain, who helps find him and stressed the need of ensurthere in 2001.

From Page 1 But their plans changed through a long-forgotten courier. ing efficient representation of the swiftly after US President Barack Obama only makes a fleeting ap- province and its different orga- vehicle of senior anchor Obama announced in May 2011 pearance in the film.—INP nizations in the event.—Online person Hamid Mir is condemnable.

The information minister said Pakistan People’s Party has always worked for stability of the country and it will continue to pursue this course in future as well. He urged the Pakistan KABUL—Even after the end of threw me out of the house,” said rape, polygamy and even Muslim League (N) to play posithe brutal rule of the Taliban in Begum, who wears a burka. She “baad,” a tribal custom of giv- tive role in the national politics.

He said that being the CoAfghanistan, Afghan women to- added that since the government ing forcibly the hand of a widow day are still yearning for gender does not have a social welfare or girl to a man from an oppos- Chairman of PPP‚ the President equality, something that probably program for poor or abandoned ing tribe to settle a dispute and could also become the Prime Minister but he chose to be a would remain wishful thinking women like her, they have no end enmity. choice but to beg in the streets.

Afghanistan, according to President to end the politics of for many years to come. from the In the male-dominated and women rights activists, is a chal- conspiracies “Is this our right to beg from dawn to dusk to feed my chil- conservative Afghanistan, the lenging country for women to President’s House.

He said that President Asif dren? Is this the right of women International Day for the Elimi- live.

Discrimination against Ali Zardari feels very strong in Afghanistan to suffer at the nation of Violence against hands of men?” asked Shah Women was marked on Sunday. women, particularly in the coun- politically and that is why he In her remarks on the occa- tryside, is still rampant. A girl shifted all his powers‚ including Begam, a 39-year-old woman beggar, just a day after the world sion, Afghan Minister for can be forced to marry a boy the appointment of Army Chief marked the International Day for Women Affairs Husan Bano chosen by her parents. Cases of and superior judges‚ to the the Elimination of Violence Ghazanfar confirmed that 3,500 public execution of women, Prime Minister.

Talking about Asghar Khan cases of violence against women flogging of women by Taliban against Women.

Panhandling alongside a were registered in Afghanistan militants and powerful tribal case‚ he said the case has not dirty road in Kabul, Begam in the first six months of Afghan leaders have been reported in only made the 1992 elections wondered aloud whether the year which began from March parts of Afghanistan over the doubtful but also put a question mark on all elections‚ which past year.

Afghan government is capable 21, 2012.

Ghazanfar has called on the Najiba, 22, was publicly were held in the country. He said of doing something for women like her who are forced to beg country’s religious scholars to executed by Taliban militants in the use of force during bye elecplay their a role in eliminating Ghorband district of Parwan tions if not stopped, holding of in order to survive.

She said begging itself is an violence against Afghan province a couple of months ago general elections will become insult for women in a country women, which has been on the while Sabira was publicly lashed difficult. He said the president where the constitution guaran- rise. Women in Afghanistan are in Jaghori district of Ghazni was a part of the parliament, facing a variety of discrimina- province by local mullahs adding that, the parliament tees women’s rights.

“My husband married an- tion and violence ranging from months ago after she eloped with would be incomplete without the head of state. other girl for the second time and child marriage, forced marriage, her boyfriend.—NNI

Nato to deploy missiles on Turkish-Syria border

Nawaz backs SBC’s Nov 30 strike call

CEC said reliable, authentic and verified electoral lists will be ensured in the entire country including Karachi in the light of orders given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan .CEC expressed concern over the issue of Karachi’s ‘unverified voters’.

Moreover, the meeting was briefed that installing CCTV cameras in every polling station is not practically possible; adding that, funds amounting to 75 billion rupees would be required for that purpose, hence, only the sensitive polling stations will be furnished with these surveillance cameras. Transparency international has assured assistance for this. The ECP deliberated on applications against 45 MPs of national and provincial assemblies on dual nationality, election symbols and other issues.—SANA

Raja appreciates ECP

Bin Laden movie based on first-hand accounts

UAE prepares for

Mian Iftikhar calls on Governor KP

President political

For Afghan women, gender equality is still wishful thinking

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf assured the Secretary ECP that the government will extend all administrative and logistical support to ECP to ensure maximum participation and voter turnout.

The Prime Minister reiterated government’s resolve for holding a free, fair and impartial election in the country on time and expressed the confidence that the upcoming election will further strengthen the democratic process by streamlining the role of state institutions in the polity.— APP

NAB intensifies anti-corruption efforts ISLAMABAD—In order to make its anti-corruption endeavors more vigorous and robust, Chairman NAB has instructed full support to all Judicial Commissions, organizations and committees, formed either on orders of judiciary or the government.

In this context implementation of anti-corruption regime based on orders of courts and autonomous institutions are being synergized.

A case in point is the composition of Judicial Commission probing CDA affairs. NAB under its prevention regime initiative is currently looking into the various projects of CDA including LED lights project.—Online

Strike may affect doctors’ health: Raisani

Q U E T TA —Chief Minister Medical

MPA Khichi passes away

V EHARI —Pakistan People’s FAISALABAD: PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain flanked by Sunni Ittehad Council chief and MNA Sahibzada Party MPA from Vehari Sardar Muhammad Khan Khichi died of heart attack here on Tuesday.

He was 54 years old. Sardar Muhammad Khan Khichi was born on September 1, 1958 in Lahore and graduated from Government College in 1983.

He was elected as member of Punjab Assembly from PP-239 on PPP ticket in 2008 general elections. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ahrsaf, leaders of ruling and opposition parties have expressed profound grief over the sudden death of Sardar Muhammad Khichi. —INP

BB muder case RAWALPINDI—An Anti Terrorism Court of Rawalpindi on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Benazir Bhutto assassination case without any proceedings to December 08. Due to absence of defence counsels, witnesses in the case including Magistrate Chaudhry Taufiq and Magistrate Masood Janjua were not cross-examined.—NNI

Journalist shot dead GUJRANWALA—A local journalist Saadi Butt was shot dead by unknown gunmen here on Tuesday. According to details, the incident took place in Mohallah Noor Baba area. Saadi Butt was standing outside his house when armed persons riding on a motorcycle sprayed bullets at him. He died on the spot. —INP

Shazia resigns from PML-N PESHAWAR—Pakistan Muslim League(N) member of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Assembly Shazia Aurangzeb has resigned from the basic membership of the party. Announcing here decision, she said that the workers were not being given due respect in the party. She said she has not yet decided whether to join any party or not. —INP

Woman dies in roof collapse FAISALABAD—A woman died while three labourers were injured when roof of a dilapidated house caved in here on Tuesday. According to details, roof of a house owned by labourers engaged in amassing clothe cut pieces located in Sir Syed Town of Faisalabad suddenly came down when they were busy in repair work. —INP

Fazal Karim talking to media persons after meeting at his residence. Deputy Prime Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi is also present.

PML-Q, Sunni Ittehad Council form electoral alliance FAISALABAD—Pakistan Muslim League Q leaders Ch Shujaat and Pervez Elahi held a meeting with Pakistan Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Fazl Kareem in this connection on Tuesday.

After the meeting the three leaders announced the decision to contest the general elections jointly. Addressing a press conference after the meeting Ch Shujaat Husain said no single political party could solve the problems of the country and collective efforts were required to overcome the crises.

“We shall take the religious parties on board for the peace and stability in the country,” he said.

“No party alone can see this

country through, all the political as well as religious parties will have to join their hands together to row the boat out of troubled waters”, he said. He said PMLQ was ready to work with the religious parties in the broader interest of the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Pervaiz Elahi on the occasion said the objective of the alliance between the two parties was to forge national unity and make collective efforts for country’s wellbeing. Talking to media persons Sahibzada Fazl Kareem said Pakistan was going through critical times due to international conspiracies, adding these conspiracies could be foiled only through national unity. “We have entered

Banned outfit member arrested KARACHI—The security forces arrested a member of defunct religious organization during a raid at a house here on Tuesday.

According to details, the security forces on a tip off conducted raid at a house located in Orangi Town area of city during which a member of banned outfit was arrested. The security forces also recovered arms and explosives from the house.

The detainee was wanted by police in various cases of attacks on security forces and other crimes.—INP

into alliance with PML-Q not for any political gain,” he said.

SIC General Secretary Haji Haneef Syed said that the seat adjustment was for the implementation of a system put forward by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “Both the parties agree that Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. Pakistan is not a secular state.”He added that it was the party’s top-most priority to rid the country of terrorism.Earlier both the Chaudhry brothers called on Karim at his residence here to hash out a political alliance for the polls to come. Dropping clues on extending alliances with other political parties as well, Karim said SIC’s doors were open for LONDON —The emir of Kuwait everyone.—Online is in Britain as an official guest of Queen Elizabeth II. Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah was greeted Tuesday with a military ceremony at Windsor open their stations immediately Castle to mark the official start and if they will not do this the of a three-day state visit.

The queen, her husband cases would be registered against them and their connections would Prince Philip and eldest son be disconnected. He said that the Prince Charles greeted the Arab deputy commissioners have been leader. The queen arrived in a asked to ensure reopening of the carriage procession with an esCNG stations otherwise the action cort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment should be taken against them.

On the other hand CNG Deal- dressed in breastplates and ers Association Chairman Abdus plumed helmets. —AP Sami Khan said that the unannounced strike by CNG stations will continue. Deputy Chairman of OGRA Sabir Hussain has said that the regulatory authority was considering over various points of the formula and will hold next hearing in Karachi tomorrow. ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister He said the OGRA has also Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tueswrote the two Sui Gas compa- day urged the national and pronies about the low pressure gas vincial legislators to actively play their role for bringing problem. —SANA about positive changes in the lives of people at grassroots level.

The Prime Minister was talking to Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, MNA, Anwar Saifullah, MPA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pir Syed Nazim Hussein Shah, According to the sources, the member Federal Council PPP, owner of the manufacturing cough Mirza Fazle Haq, Ex MPA and syrup Ricko Pharmaceutical Salis Kayani who called on Compnay, Khalid Saleem, got in- him at the Prime Minister terim bail till November 30. Po- House here to discuss issues lice produced the suspects in court pertaining to their constituenand requested for a seven-day cies. The Prime Minister urged physical remand for further inves- them to regularly monitor the tigations. The court after the ini- implementation of ongoing detial hearing sent the suspects into velopmental projects and encustody of Shahdara Town police sure their timely completion for on a four-day physical remand. the benefit of the people.—APP

Queen receives Emir of Kuwait

CNG strike continues ISLAMABAD —Unannounced of less than the load and lack of strike by the CNG stations continued on Tuesday on second consecutive day across the country posing serious troubles to the commuters following the failure of talks that were held on Monday between the CNG owners and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA); meanwhile the gas companies disconnected the connections of 400 CNG stations.

While talking to a private TV channel Chairman Pakistan CNG Association Ghayas Paracha said that on the protest of different things the gas companies have disconnected the connections of 400 CNG stations in different parts of the country, adding that the connections have been disconnected for reasons of providing CNG to public transport, selling

fulfilment of documental procedures. He said the CNG could be sold at the present prices because the CNG owners could not bear the loss by selling Gas on such a low price. He said that the government should decrease the gas rates and taxes on the CNG. He said that the CNG stations owners want to sell the CNG but could not sell on low price, adding that even the stations owners are not able to pay the bills of the stations.

He said that one million rupees are needed by the owners of the CNG stations for the payment of bills but even the banks are not ready to give loan to the CNG stations owners.On the other hand the Commissioner of Karachi Hasim Raza Zaidi said they have asked the CNG stations owners to

Cough syrup accused sent on 4-day physical remand MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—The Judicial Magistrate Waseem Anjam on Tuesday sent the three arrested persons, accused of involvement in sale of the poisonous cough syrup that killed at least 17 people in Lahore, on a four-day physical remand.

Judicial Magistrate Wakeel Anjum heard the case pertaining to the sale of poisonous cough

syrup. An initial autopsy report of two the deceased victims was submitted in court. Police informed the court that a case had been registered under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code after 17 people died of consuming poisonous cough syrup and that three suspects, including a distributor Abdur Rauf and two shopkeepers Sada Hussain and Malik Rizwan, were taken into custody.

PM urges MPs to regularly monitor development projects

Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisiani on Tuesday warned the defying doctors to call their strike off lest it proved injurious to their health forcing the government to prescribe a bitter pill for them.

“I’m warning the doctors to go back to work before they get to taste their own medicine”, he said during a visit to Civil Hospital’s emergency department.

Raisani said doctors should return to the hospitals unconditionally otherwise their defiance would get them into serious trouble.

“The doctors who will reassume their duties without any conditions are more than welcome but those who will not are not”, said CM Balochistan.

CM also paid a visit to Combined Military Hospital and thanked the authorities over there for providing medical care to the patients at large in the absence of civilian doctors.

On the flip-side, Pakistan

Association Balochistan (PMA Balochistan) has decided to continue with its strike in hospitals of the province, stressing government to accept its demands.

OPDs are closed while emergency services are unavailable in both private and government hospitals.

On the other hand, PMA Balochistan has called an emergency meeting to discuss the future line of action in the light of government actions. President of PMA Doctor Sultan Tareen has said that the government is trying to harass the doctors. However, they are not going to be deterred and will continue with their strike till their demands are met.

The government of Balochistan has decided to take back the official residences from the on-strike doctors after they declined to resume their healthcare responsibilities.

According to the government sources, the decision was made in a late night meeting of

US planned to blow up Moon with nuclear bomb

provincial high-ups.

The officials, on this occasion, said the on-strike doctors will be driven out of the official residences.

Meantime, Deputy Commissioner Quetta Hashim Ghalazai and Assistant Commissioner Quetta sent heavy contingent of police to Civil Hospital of city to re-open its emergency ward.

Secretary Health Ismatullah Kakar said if young doctors do not show up at their duty places, they will be sacked.

The Health Secretary also struck down the deputation of Young Doctors Association (YDA) President Dr. Abdus Samad Panezai to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College.

He also cancelled the job orders of on-strike house officers posted at Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex.

The provincial Home Department also imposed a ban on the on-strike doctors to enter the government hospitals.—Agencies

57 PML-Q Sindh office-bearers tender resignations

WASHINGTON—The US had US confidence after the launch KARACHI—At least 57 officeplanned to blow up the moon with a nuclear bomb in the 1950s.

At the height of the space race, the US considered detonating an atom bomb on the Moon as a display of America’s Cold War muscle. The secret project, named ‘A Study of Lunar Research Flights’ and nicknamed ‘Project A119’, however was never carried out.America’s planning included calculations by astronomer Carl Sagan, then a young graduate student, of the behaviour of dust and gas generated by the blast, the Daily Mail reports.

According to the report, viewing the nuclear flash from the Earth might have intimidated the Soviet Union and boosted

of Sputnik, physicist Leonard Reiffel said.

Under the scenario, a missile carrying a small nuclear device was to be launched from an undisclosed location and travel 238,000 miles to the moon, where it would be detonated upon impact.The planners decided it would have to be an atom bomb because a hydrogen bomb would have been too heavy for the missile, the report said. Military officials apparently abandoned the idea because of the danger to people on Earth in case the mission failed, the report added.

The scientists also registered concerns about contaminating the moon with radioactive material, Reiffel said.—AP

PAC summons Presidency, PM House officials, SC registrar ISLAMABAD—National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued notices to officials of Presidency, Prime Minister’s House, and Supreme Court of Pakistan to appear before it to give reply to audit objections. .

Source said PAC has issued special directive to Registrar Supreme Court to appear before the committee in December’s second week, and clarify position for not giving reply with reference to audit objections. .

PAC also directed Frontier Works Organisation, NADRA, and National Press Trust to state its stance in the second week of December.

A meeting of PAC, presided by its Chairman, Nadeem Afzal Chan, was held on Tuesday in the Parliament House. In the meeting, the objections about audit of financial accounts of Ministry of Defence Production and other ministries for the year 2004-05 and 2006-07 were analysed.

The meeting was told that there are 16 such organisations,

which are working under certain ministries but claim independence and also refuse to let Auditor General of Pakistan do their audit. During the meeting, two organisations including Virtual University Lahore and Pakistan Poverty-alleviation Fund showed consent in connection with audit of their accounts by Auditor General of Pakistan under PAC directives.

The remaining 14 organisations hold the stance that they are independent private organisations therefore, governmental rules and regulations do not apply to them.

Audit informed PAC that funds worth billions of rupees have been kept in other than governmental bank accounts. At this, the committee directed Secretary Ministry of Defence Production, Lt. Gen. Shahid Iqbal to present report on these accounts to the committee. Moreover, the committee decided to declare its decision regarding allotment of two plots to government officers on December 4. —Online

bearers of PML-Q in Sindh submitted their resignations to party’s provincial president, Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, three days after he quit as Privatisation Minister, citing the PPP leaders’ non-cooperation.

PML-Q is an ally of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party in Sindh and the centre.

Mahar, who was elected MNA on PML-Q’s ticket from Sindh, claimed that he had already resigned due to PPP leadership’s ‘lack of cooperation’. Earlier, he was believed to be joining PML-N in the wake of his meetings with the opposition party big-wigs.

However, the former minister on Tuesday vowed to throw weight behind Pir Pagara, the spiritual leader of Hurs and chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).

“From now, my political future is attached with Pir Pagara. The People’s Party didn’t fulfill its pledges it made with the people,” Mahar said.

He said PML-Q’s 57 office-bearers of different levels had submitted their resignations to him in protest against the PPP’s misconduct. —INP

Pak govt to decide on NW operation: Olson LAHORE—US Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson said Tuesday the decision to conduct an operation in North Waziristan Agency (SWA) was Pakistan’s internal matter and would be made by the country’s government.

Olson added that both the US and Pakistan were in agreement in regard to eliminating terrorism.

The US Ambassador further said that steps taken to ensure peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan were appreciable. —INP

‘AIDS cure’ good for only one per cent of patients: experts P

HYSICIANS in Germany who say they have “functionally cured” a patient with HIV/AIDS are warning that their accidental breakthrough is effective for only about one percent of patients who suffer from AIDS. Headlines in November heralded an “AIDS cure” after Gero Huetter and Eckhard Thiel, blood-cancer specialists at Charite Hospital in Berlin, reported that they had seemingly cured a 42year-old US patient of HIV/ AIDS by giving him a bonemarrow transplant whilst treating him for cancer.

Their breakthrough was made possible by studies in the late 1990s revealing that some people were resistant to HIV/AIDS, according to a report in New Scientist magazine on the Berlin haematologists’ discovery.

In these people, the virus cannot enter and destroy the white blood cells that it infects and destroys in most other people. They owed their resistance to a mutation in the gene that makes the molecular “door handle” by which HIV/AIDS gains access to cells.

Called CCR5, the protein door handle was misshapen in the immune individuals, locking HIV/AIDS out of their white blood cells, the New Scientist report noted.

Since the discovery, it has been established that about one percent of Europeans have the same mutation, making them resistant to HIV/ AIDS. To be resistant, they had to inherit the same mutation from both parents.

Huetter and Thiel made use of this when treating their patient for leukaemia, which he had developed in addition to HIV/AIDS. To treat the leukaemia, the two doctors did the

usual thing and sought a bone-marrow donor to replenish the patient’s blood supply following chemotherapy to kill the existing, cancerous blood cells.

But the Berlin doctors’ new approach was to get a donor who had the double HIVresistant CCR5 mutation. This meant that the patient’s replenished blood system would effectively be resistant to HIV/ AIDS, locking out the virus for good.

This is what appears to have happened, according to the New Scientist analysis, and Huetter declared his patient “functionally cured”.

Attempts to use bone-marrow transplants in HIV/AIDS treatment have been made since the 1980s. In one case, a patient with both HIV/AIDS and lymphoma died of the cancer two months later, but was found to harbour no HIV/ AIDS. It was not known if something in the transplant had protected him.

And in a famous 1995 case, Jeff Getty, a prominent San Francisco advocate for HIV/ AIDS patients, received bone marrow from a baboon, which is resistant to the human virus. The New York Times reported that he survived for 11 years, but died of HIV/AIDS and cancer. The Times said the transplant had not protected him but anti-retroviral triple therapy had been invented in time to help.

Hotter and Thiel have been quick to say that it is far too early to speak of a widespread general cure for HIV/AIDS. They stress that their breakthrough is a sound proof of principle, demonstrating that there is hope for treatments that literally lock HIV/AIDS out in the cold.

ISLAMABAD: Gypsy women busy in cutting grass from a roadside greenbelt to feed domestic animals.

Cuban Jazz group to perform at PBC ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) is organizing live performance of renowned Cuban Jazz Group on Friday,(November 30), especially for Jazz lovers in twin cities.

The band is currently in Pakistan to teach at the National College of Arts, Lahore. Alberto Batista Hernandez, drums; Ana Maria caluff Oropesa, piano and Ariel Jorge P‚rez Caballero, trombone are the members of the team.

The trio mixes jazz with traditional Latin and Cuban rhythms to create a music that delights the music lovers.—APP

Probe into rat bite incident

Five staffers suspended, committee formed RAWALPINDI—Medical Super- Khasana, AMS Asima Ahsan ited the hospital and inquired intendent (MS) of the Holy Family Hospital Dr Muhammad Fayyaz on Tuesday formed an inquiry committee to probe the rat biting incident and fix the responsibility against staffers showing negligence.

Talking to APP, he said the committee comprising Additional MS (AMS) Dr Tariq Masood Niazi, Administration Deputy (MS) Dr Farooq

and Nursing Superintendent Prem Rose would investigate the negligence of the attending staff.

He also suspended five staffers of the gynecology ward including Incharge nurse, two nurses and two sanitary workers.

Meanwhile Goodwill Ambassador for orphan children Jahanara Manzoor Watoo vis-

after health of the injured newborn baby.

She announced Rs50,000 for the newborn and directed the hospital administration to provide best medical facilities to the baby.

A newborn baby was bitten by a rat soon after birth in the night between Sunday and Monday here at Labour Room of the Hospital.—APP

Good ties between Bench, Bar important: CJP

PTDC to organize photographic exhibition I SLAMABAD—Pakistan Tour-

I SLAMABAD —Chief Justice

ism Development Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with Court Iftikhar ISLAMABAD: MD Dar-e-Arqam School Yaseen Khan and Regional Director Malik Azhar Supreme Pakistan National Council of Muhammad Chaudhary has said with 90 students who completed Hifz-e-Quran at AIOU. the Arts (PNCA) would orgathat there is a close relationship nize three days Photo Exhibibetween bench and bar which is tion to promote tourism at based on mutual respect and for PNCA from Wednesday to Frithe cause of administration of day. justice in society Photographs depicting He was talking to a 15-memculture, scenic beauty and tourber delegation of Phalia Bar Asist attractions etc. from sociation headed by its PresiISLAMABAD—Prime Minister China, Mr. Masood khalid, who tween the two countries into dent Chaudhary Asif Mehmood, PTDC’s collection and photo journalists from Rawalpindi/ Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that called on him here on Tuesday. strong business partnership. which called on him on TuesExpressing satisfaction over The prime Minister said, day in the Supreme Court.

Islamabad will be exhibited in Pakistan always attached great the exhibition. importance to its time-tested present trade relations, the prime “We are proud of our excellent Chief Justice emphasized Managing Director PTDC relationship with China and this Minister directed the Ambassa- relations with China, with the lawyers’ community that Mir Shahjahan Khetran, will friendship is an integral part of dor designate to work for fur- which we have a strategic part- they should appear before the ther expansion in trade between nership.” Our cooperation with court fully prepared to assist inaugurate the exhibition. The Pakistan’s foreign policy.

China on regional and interna- courts and should work hard to entry in the exhibition would The Prime Minister ex- the two countries.

He underlined the need to tional levels is exemplary, he make their career bright and fruit- RAWALPINDI: Jahanara Manzoor Wattoo, Ambassador for Orphan Children visiting the be free for students and famipressed these views while talknew born baby which was bitten by rats in Holy Family Hospital. lies.—APP ing to Ambassador designate to transform the friendship be- added.—INP ful for society.—Online

Friendship with China integral part of Pak foreign policy: PM

Lebanon celebrates Independence Day ASHRAF A NSARI ISLAMABAD —The Charge’d’ Affaires of Lebanon Mr. Ali Al Ghazzawi hosted a reception at a local hotel to celebrate Independence Day of his country. A large number of guests graced the function including ambassadors, senior diplomats, officials and prominent people of the federal capital belonging to various walks of life.

Among the guests were US ambassador Mr. Olson, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ibrahim AlGhadeer, Ambassador of Egypt Mohamed El-Said Hindam, Ambassador of Qatar Sayar Abdul Rahman AlMawdah, Ambassador of Bahrain Mr. Mohammed Ebraheem Mohammed, Ambassador of Tunisia Mr. Mourad Bourehla and Ambassador of Argentine Mr Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Dean of Diplomatic Corps.

Dr. Asim Hussain Advisor to the Prime Minister on etroleum & Natural Resources was the Chief Guest

at the Independence Day re- tion began with the playing of and Lebanon. joy close friendly and brothception of Lebanon. The func- national anthems of Pakistan Pakistan and Lebanon en- erly relations.

The two countries are cooperating with each other in several fields.

The Charge’d’ Affaires of Lebanon Mr. Ali Al Ghazzawi said there was vast scope of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Dr. Asim Hussain while talking to Pakistan Observer said that Pakistan has always taken interest in the well being of the Lebanese people and wants to boost its relations with Lebanon in economic and other fields.

The national flag of Lebanon is unique in its design. It prominently depicts Cedar Tree.

The tree symbolizes ancient culture of Lebanon steeped in dense green Cedar forests.

ISLAMABAD: Chief guest Advisor to PM on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Today this tree on the naHussain, Head of Mission of Lebanon Ali Al-Ghazzawi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Abdul tional flag of Lebanon reflects Aziz Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer, Ambassador of Egypt Said Hindam, Ambassador of Iraq Dr Rushdi commitment of the country to Al-Ani, Ambassador of Tunisia Mourad Bourehla, Ambassador of Algeria Dr Ahmad Benflis, attaining prosperity through Ambassador of Oman Riyadh Yousuf Alraisi and Anjum Aqeel Khan cutting the cake to mark peace and harmony. The Cethe Independence Day of Republic of Lebanon, at a local hotel.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

dar is an historical entity mentioned often in the Bible and other ancient texts, playing an important part in the culture, trade and religious observances of the ancient Middle East.

Lebanon is not un-familiar in Pakistan.

It’s a country which is generally known to the people because of its proximity to Palestine and its ancient history. Beirut, the capital of Lebanon is renowned for its location, splendour and popular tourist destination.

A large number of Pakistani students prefer to study at the Beirut University.

The national museum of Beirut is a great attraction for the tourists being an introduction to Lebanon’s history, its ancient people and its great civilization.

The museum was severely damaged during Lebanon’s war, 1975-91 but it has now been restored.

Pak Navy to be supported in development plans STAFF REPORTER Zohr

06:10 01:30 03:45 07:00

November 28 PUNJABI Muzahia Mushaira will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday at IT Hall, Islam Block by the Department of Pakistani Languages in National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad.

November 29 FACULTY of Management Sciences (FMS) of the International Islamic University (IIUI) has scheduled a seminar on “Leadership; The Art of Management”. The seminar would be held at 10:30 am, at Quaid-e-Azam Auditorium, Faisal Masjid Campus of the university.

November 29-30 NATIONAL media conference titled ‘Dissecting Pakistan’s media’ will be held at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad from 10 am to 5 pm.

December 5 THE Josh Adabi Foundation will organize ‘Josh Literary Conference’ on December 5 in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) to mark 116th birth anniversary of great revolutionary poet Josh Malihabadi. The conference will be held at Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL). Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Dr Farooq Sattar will be the chief guest.

I SLAMABAD—Federal Defence Minister, Naveed Qamar on Tuesday assured that the government would provide all possible support to Pakistan Navy enabling it to materialize developmental plans according to the timeline.

During his visit to Naval Headquarters (NHQs) here, he appreciated PN’s initiatives at regional and international level through participation in Task Forces to curb menace of piracy and terrorism.

The Defence Minister also acknowledged PN’s efforts in developing various facilities in coastal areas which is helping in uplifting socio-

CDA to award contract of toll plaza on IJP Road

economic condition of December this year and Baloch people. this would be third time PN Earlier, upon his arrival has had the honour of at NHQs, the Defence Mincommanding the Task ister was received by Chief Force 151. of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Qamar was Mohammad Asif Sandila. elaborately briefed on PaThe Minister was given kistan Navy’s Developan extensive brief on prevamental Plans and the budlent Maritime Security situgetary constraints effectation. ing the realization of the The dignitary was apDevelopmental Plans. prised on Pakistan Navy’s He was also apprised of efforts to maintain stability Pakistan Navy’s Nation and peace in the region, debuilding efforts in the spite its resource conCoastal Areas of Balochistan straints. and Sind provinces.

The Defence Minister PN’s project of buildwas also apprised about the ing Cadet College at importance of participation Ormara was also highin the international efforts lighted during the Brief and against crimes at sea. the dignitary was apprised He was informed that that the Cadet College Pakistan Navy will Inshallah would start its First acatake over the Command of ISLAMABAD: Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, Chief of the Naval Staff presenting demic session from April Anti Piracy Force TF-151 in souvenir to Naveed Qamar, Minister for Defence at Naval Headquarters.

2013.

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Secretary CapiI SLAMABAD —The Capital tal Administration & Development (CAD), Ms. Riffat Shaheen Qazi has said that it is the collective responsibility of the entire society to help and look after the needy and poor people.

She said this while inaugurating Free Medical Camp at Punjgran, Islamabad.

“Government alone is not the solution of all issues. We need to work together and united for the noble cause of serving humanity. The poor patients deserve our attention and help. More free medical camps shall be held in future to provide medical assistance to the poor patients”, said Ms. Qazi.

The Rural Community De-

velopment Centre Punjgran has arranged the Free General & Eye Camp at Punjgran to provide free eyes check up, optical glasses and cataract operation. Free blood test of Hepatitis B & C and free check ups for seasonal diseases was provided at the camp. A team of qualified and expert doctors from Population Welfare Department provided family planning counseling and treatment.

Mrs.Riffat Shaheen Qazi committed to continue such kind of camps with more improvement in future. She appreciated the Rural Community Development Centre for its efforts and promised the local community for provision of better services from social welfare department of the ministry.

FUI, COMSATS ink MoU STAFF REPORTER I S L A M A B A D —Foundation University Islamabad (FUI) and COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an aim to benefit from each other ’s initiatives, expertise and working procedure and to support and assist the researchers associated with both the universities.

Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi (S.I.), Rector, CIIT and Maj. Gen. Gul Muhammad, HI (M), (Retd), Rector, FUI inked the MoU. The purpose of the MOU is to define the areas of collaboration both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, professional training, joint research and other academic services including Faculty Development Program (FDP), Supervision and Evaluation of PhD Research Work, Guest Speaker Sessions and Seminars.

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Capital Administration and Development, Riffat Shaheen Qazi inaugurating free medical camp at Punjgran.

AIOU reschedules exams I SLAMABAD —Due to un-

Prices of warm clothes on rise as winter sets in

avoidable circumstances, final exams of the Allama launda bazaar.

CITY REPORTER Iqbal Open University Stall of winter clothes (AIOU) for the Semester ISLAMABAD—Prices of win- and sales points of shoes Spring, 2012 were postponed ter clothes including, jackets can be witnessed at different in only the urban areas of and blankets are registering shopping malls and markets Islamabad which were upward trends in the twin cit- of the twin cities. scheduled to be held on ies of Islamabad and Piles of secondhand 22nd November.

Rawalpindi as the winter sea- quilts, blankets and rugs are Now the University has son has set in with the de- up for sale here in the weekly rescheduled these exams on mand for the items shooting markets with crowds of Saturday 8th December in rapidly. people, both poor and rich can only the urban areas of All kinds of wears and be seen bargaining with retailIslamabad, correspondingly accessories including ers in markets and weekly bathe exams which were sched- gloves, woolen hats, muf- zaars where heaps of quilts, uled to be held on Friday 23rd flers, pullovers, sweater shirts bedcovers, blankets and rugs November had also been and jackets can be seen dis- are displayed for sale. postponed across the coun- played in front of shops and A shopkeeper try which would now be held booths of weekly bazaars, Muhammad Nasir said: “we on Tuesday 1st January, attracting the customers. have no other option but to 2013 simultaneously all over “The poor people get sell clothes on high rates as the country. warm clothes from launda we also have bought them on This was announced by bazaars or secondhand high prices.” Vendors and R AWALPINDI —Rawal Town Controller of Exams AIOU, clothes markets at much dealers are doing brisk busiBashir cheaper prices,” said Asmat ness as their clothes are sellMunicipal Administration Muhammad (RTMA) has started opera- Chaudhry.—INP Shah a shopper at Faizabad ing like hot cakes. tion against illegal hoarding.

Anti-encroachment team of RTMA in its operation removed 50 hoarding boards from various locations on Saidpur Road, Sixth Road, New Katarian and adjoining bazaars.

The team also erased wall chalking on Murree Road, Saddiqabad, and Commercial Market.

The administrator urged citizens to cooperate with the civic body in order to keep the city clean and identify those involved in wall chalking and other illegal activities.

Meanwhile, the contract of the hoarding board installed on Murree Road, Laiquat Road, Tipu Road, Saidpur Road, Commercial Market, Khyaban-e-Sir Syed and Cricket Stadium Road was awarded at ISLAMABAD: Activists of Defence of Human Rights protesting against abortive atRs6.25 million.—INP tempt on the life of Hamid Mir outside National Press Club.

RTMA removes illegal hoardings

ISLAMABAD—The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) president Syed Nayyab Gardaizi has said judicial crisis in the federal capital was inevitable in January if the sanctioned strength of judges was not increased and the same not timely appointed.Nayyab said under the National Judicial Policy all the cases registered before 2008 in lower courts were supposed to be decided by December 31. In this sort of situation, thousands of litigants would visit IHC whereas over 11,000 cases have already been pending in IHC. He suggested that 11 judges instead of seven judges should be appointed in IHC but at present, less than the sanctioned strength was serving in IHC owing to which thousands of cases were lying pending.—INP

Govt endeavouring to provide PPP to observe maximum health facilities 45th Foundation

CITY REPORTER

Development Authority has decided to award the contract of toll plazas on Islamabad Highway and IJ Principal Road through open auctioning after termination of fiveyear contracts of the same under built-operate-transfer.

CDA Director Revenue has invited applications from interested firms, saying that the contract of the toll plazas would be awarded for the period of one year. He said that auctioning of Rawat Toll Plaza on Islamabad Highway will be conducted on Nov 29 while that of Pirwadhai Toll Plaza will be conducted on IJP Road on Nov 30.

Crisis if judges’ strength not increased

Day

CITY REPORTER RAWALPINDI—President Pakistan Peoples Party Rawalpindi Chapter Amir Fida Paracha, here on Tuesday said that the 45th Foundation Day of Pakistan Peoples Party would be celebrated on November 30 with zeal and zest.

A seminar would be held here at Laiquat Bagh office in which services of Shaheed Quaid Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto would be remembered.

He said that founder chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party and former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a genuine leader and statesman of this country.

His struggle for providing rights to the people were unprecedented in the political history of Pakistan,he added.

He expressed these views while talking to various delegations of Pakistan Peoples Party at his office during the day.

He said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the voice of the poor and he worked hard for the welfare of the poor in the country.

Party leaders and workers will also pay homage to PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and former premier Benazir Bhutto, he added.

Illegal huts demolished

RAWALPINDI: A view of eight CNG cylinders fixed on the rooftop of a passenger bus which may cause any mishap.

Construction of roads in sectors I-11/1 & 2 halted STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The affectees have again stopped development work on the roads of Capital Development Authority in sectors I-11/1 & 2 as they have not been allotted the right of ownership of their lands.

According to details, CDA has restarted the construction of roads in sectors I-11/1 and 2 of the federal capital developed in 1991 but due to mismanagement and poor performance of the authority, the dwellers have not been given ownership rights yet.

CDA has allocated Rs180 million for construction of roads in the said sector in 2011 but

despite passage of one and a half years only 20% on ground wok of the project has been completed.Though CDA has compensated all the affectees of the two sectors but they have stopped the construction of roads several times.

The enforcement staff of the civic body despite having powers neither take action against the dwellers nor any FIR against them has been registered so far.Meanwhile, standing committees of Senate and National Assembly have directed the CDA and local administration to demolish all the illegal slum areas but both are playing the role of silent spectators in this regard.

Bakers, restaurants issued chalan slips RAWALPINDI—On the directives of the Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Zaffar Iqbal Gondal, the Health Department team raided kitchens of bakers and restaurants besides issuing chalan slips over poor hygiene.

District Food Inspector Malik Abdul Aziz and District Health Officer Dr Ansar Ishaq along with the Health Department team raided four bakers and a restaurant located in Commercial Market. Samples of edibles were sent to food testing laboratory and chalan slips were issued over poor hygiene condition in kitchens of the said bakers.—INP

CITY REPORTER I SLAMABAD —The Capital Development Authority (CDA) with the cooperation of capital police has demolished 60 illegal huts during operation in slum areas.

It should be mentioned that more than 600 illegal houses were still present in the slum areas of the federal capital.

The dwellers of the demolished huts staged a protest demonstration against the operation. They were of the opinion that they haven’t been given deadline to vacate the land before launching operation so that they could shift to alternate location.

CDA sources said that people had illegally occupied the Government land in Sec- RAWALPINDI: Pir Muhammad Naqib-ur-Rehman, custodian of Eidgah Shrine addresstor H-9 and build up shelters. ing the ‘Martyrs of Karbala’ conference.

Deputy Director CDA said that the operation was launched to clear the federal capital of illegal huts as most of the criminals and drug traffickers were residing in the slum areas and were security said. sacrifices of Imam Hussain STAFF REPORTER threat for the city.

The custodian of Eidgah (AS) would be guiding the R A W A L P N I D I — T h e shrine said that the abidance Muslims for all times to come. unmatchable sacrifices of- by the teachings of the Holy Mufti Muhammad fered by Hazrat Imam Prophet (peace be upon him) Sulaiman Rizvi, Maulana Hussain (AS) along with his and adherence to the prin- Ziaur Rehman Ziaee, Allama 72 loyal companions in the ciples followed and upheld Muhammad Usman Farooqi, plain of Karbala for the glory by the heirs and companions Maulana Bashir Ahmed STAFF REPORTER of Islam are a glorious and of the Holy Prophet (peace Sialvi, Maulana Hafiz I S L A M A B A D — I s l a m a b a d perpetual motivation for the be upon him) lead the Mus- Muhammad Iqbal Rizvi, Horticultural Society in col- righteous people to rise lims, individually as well as Allama Masood Rizvi, laboration with CDA is orga- against the falsehood. collectively, to the achieve- Maulana Faisal and Khawaja Pir Muhammad Naqib-ur- ment of ultimate goal of pleas- Wajahat Jameel were prominizing Chrysanthemum and Autumn flower’s show from Rehman, custodian of Eidgah ing Almighty Allah. nent among others who 30th November to 2nd De- shrine, stated this while adPaying tributes to the spoke on the occasion. cember at Rose & jasmine dressing at ‘Martyrs of Holy Prophet (peace be upon Several Naat Khawans Karbala Conference’ as part him) and Hazrat Imam from far and wide paid tribGarden.

It was decided at the ex- of monthly congregation of Hussain (AS), Pir utes to the Holy Prophet ecutive council meeting of Barhveen Sharif at Eidgah Muhammad Hassaan Hasib- (peace be upon him).

Islamabad Horticultural Soci- Sharif here on Tuesday. ur-Rehman said that Imam In the end, Pir “Islam is a complete code Hussain (AS) was not a help- Muhammad ety.

Naqib-urThe main purpose of the of life while the life of the less person, rather he offered Rehman prayed for the unity show is to promote Holy Prophet (peace be upon every sacrifice, despite hav- among Muslims; progress, Horticultur and provide him) is an all-inclusive model ing a great deal of strength, prosperity and solidarity of healthy entertainment to the for practising and implement- with the exalted and ultimate Pakistan and liberation of residents and organization of ing this code, which is the objective of pleasing Al- Kashmiri and Palestinian Rawalpindi and Islamabad. only way to absolution,” he mighty Allah. He said the Muslims.

Imam Hussain (AS) sacrifices for Islam are unparalleled: Pir Naqib

Annual flower show

Intellectuals demand withdrawal of troops from IHK Concern raised over deteriorating health of detainees SRINAGAR—In Srinagar, the Kashmiri intellectuals have demanded withdrawal of Indian troops from occupied Kashmir to stop further massacre of the Kashmiris in the territory.

The demand was made in a meeting of the intellectuals with the APHC leaders in Srinagar, today. The meeting was chaired by the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and attended by Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, Bilal Ghani Lone, Musaddiq Aadil, Hakeem Abdur Rasheed, Zafar Akbar Butt, Syed Saleem Gilani and Bashir Ahmad Andrabi.

ISLAMABAD: AJK Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed meeting with Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babr.

Amarnath plan concerns IHK civil society group SRINAGAR—In occupied Kashmir, a civil society group has taken exception to the extensive damage to ecology of the Kashmir Valley by construction of the road leading to Amarnath Cave.

The Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCDS) in a statement said that the “collective conscience of the Kashmiris is outraged by whatever is happening with the environment and ecology of Kashmir in general and along the road that leads to Amarnath Cave in particular because the goings-on in relation to the road to Amarnath Cave are happening behind the backs of principal stakeholders to the issue.” “It is detrimental to fragile ecology and environment of the area,” the KCDS spokesman said. The spokesman criticized the authorities in occupied Kashmir for being abysmally ignorant and callous to the developments taking place.

The KCDS said that the local authorities were “at best acquiescing and at worst collaborating in the vandalism of the precious and delicate environment.” “It is highly disturbing that the press reports suggest that the clearance for the plan will come within seven days from the Forest Department. We impress upon the Department to come out with facts about the whole issue,” the statement added.—KMS

AJK HC accepts petition on Sharda antiques MUZAFFARABAD—The Azad Kashmir High Court on Tuesday accepted the writ petition filed by the Kashmir Virsa Bachao Committee regarding the return of precious antiques of Sharda, alleged to have been illegally removed from Neelum Valley to Muzaffarabad, for regular hearing. The full bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal heard the writ petition.

Lawyer for the civil society Karam Dad Khan in his arguments said it was the responsibility of the government to preserve all the antiques and artefacts. He said there are clear laws of the federal and AJK governments in this regard which need to be implemented.

Government lawyers argued that the matter at hand is not about the antiques but these are daily use items. They said the Kunday artefacts are used in Neelum to give water to cattle.

They said the issue is needlessly raised in the media.—INP MOHAMMAD ISHAQ BEGH

K

ASHMIR also known as the flash point between three nuclear powers(India, Pakistan and China). All these three nuclear powers have controlled some land of Jammu and Kashmir, but World is realizing only two nations as the controllers of this state and those are India and Pakistan.

Being very close neighbors these two countries have fought three wars over the issue of Kashmir, which took thousands of lives of these two nations. And Kashmir itself lost thousands of precious lives over this dispute.

The origin of this dispute lies in disintegration of sub continent occurred in 1947, and since then this heaven on Earth became the hell for its

Hurriyat appeals Panchs, Sarpanchs to boycott polls

India to move more troops to Ladakh against China: Farooq

SRINAGAR—In an appeal to all said, “don’t be misled, you are may provide the security but the N EW D ELHI — In occupied

Kashmir, former puppet Chief Minister and the President of pro-India National Conference, Farooq Abdullah has said that India is deploying more troops in Ladakh region.

Farooq Abdullah who also currently holds portfolio of an Indian cabinet minister addressing young students, scholars and scientists at the Northern Regional Science Congress in New Delhi broached the topic when he was referring to the abundant wind energy resources available in Ladakh region.

“We people have Army there (in Ladakh). (We have) one full division there and now we are putting another division there because we have threat from China and I don’t say that outside but I am telling you because you are Indians. I want to tell you that in one place we are befriending China but we have also learnt a lesson from China and that is why we remain cautious as well because we had SRINAGAR—The Hurriyat (G) suffering under oppressive In- Gujarat,” he said. one division we will be keep“In 1947, five lakh Mus- ing another one there,” he chairman, Syed Ali Shah dian rule,” he said. “Unless we Geelani has said that the people get independence from India, lims were massacred in Jammu said.—KMS of Kashmir do not have the re- we can’t establish an Islamic alone by the troops of the Maharaja,, the police of Patiala, and sources to wage an armed society in our state.

Independence and an Is- Jana Sangh and RSS workers,” struggle against India to secure freedom. “No country is ready lamic society are the essential he said. “NC , Congress and to provide us any armed sup- requirements for the welfare of other parties claim themselves port, so we must gain our inde- the people of Jammu and Kash- to be protecting the identity of the people. They actually back pendence from Indian rule by mir.” he said.

Geelani also said that the the forces who are committing peaceful resistance. We must continue our struggle for the United Nations had failed to human rights violations in the S RINAGAR — In occupied right to self-determination,” maintain peace and security in state. Those who vote and sup- Kashmir, the independent memIslamic countries where, ac- port these people are answer- ber of so-called Kashmir LegGeelani said.

“The sacrifices offered by cording to him, heinous crimes able before Allah,” he said. islative Assembly, Engineer He said that the people Abdur Rasheed has reacted the martyrs of Karbala should of human rights violations were be a source of strength and re- being committed. “In India, should not support those pro- strongly to the assertion of a solve for the people of Jammu people especially Muslims, moting the open sale of liquor senior officer of Indian army and Kashmir who have been were slaughtered in Assam and in Kashmir.—NNI saying that it has added insult to the injuries of the Kashmiris.

The General Officer Commanding of Indian Army’s Srinagarbased Chinar Corps, General Prakash had asked the Kashmiris to forget the past.

Engineer Abdur Rasheed addressing public meetings in Sopore reminded General Prakash that troops were roaming in Kashmir and had got promotions and awards for killing innocent Kashmiris.

“If India cannot forget its national heroes like Raj Guru, Sukhdev and Bhagat Singh, how can the Kashmiris forget one lakh people who lost their lives for the resolution of Kashmir issue?” he questioned. Engineer Rasheed said, the Kashmiris can never forget Kunan Poshpora, Pathribal, Machil, Nadihal, Chattisinghpora and other countless incidents which are now a part of history. “Even if people like General Prakash can ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah called on Federal Minis- forget the history but history ter for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Watto in Islamabad on cannot forget them,” he added.—KMS Tuesday.

Panchs and Sarpanchs for poll boycott, Coalition party’s National confrence, Congress and the opposition PDP for their detrimental role in Jammu and Kashmir. All these parties have grabbed the freedom of state, while the PDP was sponsored by the agencies, Hurriyat Conference (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said in a statement to Valley Media Service.

“All these parties are ideologically the same and have no difference; they are power thirsty and this is the main issue and concern for their existence”, Hurriyat spokesman while addressing the recently selected Panch’s and sarpanch ,

the part of our nation, and disassociate your affiliation from ruling as well and opposition parties”, spokesman added.

Nation has laid sacrificses for a just cause and it is our duty to take care of this. Anybody who has no regarded for these sacrifices has no value for his faith, nor he understands that he is doing harm not only to himself but also does harm to the next generation. Spokesman criticizing the role of ruling and opposition parties said that noble souls always do have regard for their conscience, have value for moral character and will never justify his misconduct, lest he may be treated as traitor. Administration

stigma due to their anti-movement activities, they may attract, will haunt them and will remain there.

Commenting on Omer Abdullah’s assertion of hand and plough as election symbol a trouble for opposition, spokesman added that the combination of “plough and hand” has already proved a malignant headache for state and is main cause of political instability in Jammu and Kashmir.

The custodians of Plough have handed over the state to the congress only for power and together the two parties have suppressed the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.—NNI

The intellectuals who had representation from different parts of the territory in the meeting included Ghulam Hassan Zareen, Ghulam Hassan Khan, Abdul Rasheed Aafaq, Dr Imran, Muhammad Yousuf Mashhoor and Dr Naseer. They called for granting the Kashmiris free access to any part of the Jammu and Kashmir across the Line of Control.

On the occasion, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq assured the intellectuals that the Hurriyet being custodian of the sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir would continue to fight for the

settlement of the Kashmir dispute as per the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

The veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement expressed serious concern over the deteriorating health of illegally detained Hurriyet leaders and activists including Ghulam Qadir Butt.

He urged the world human rights organisations to impress upon India to release the detainees forthwith.

APHC leader, Nayeem Ahmad Khan addressing a procession at Magam in Badgam strongly condemned the contin-

ued detention of Hurriyet leader, Masroor Abbas, and restrictions imposed by the authorities on Muharram processions in the territory.

Anti-India protest demonstration was held at Magam in Tangmarg. Various human rights organisations through a resolution passed during a conference on ‘Human rights and laws’ at Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab called for abolition of capital punishment and stopping misuse of laws aimed at suppressing right to self-determination movements in Kashmir and India.—KMS

Cancer on rise in held Valley SRINAGAR— Experts attributed the escalation in cancer deaths in Kashmir to delay in curative treatment due to its late detection in the patients. According to oncologists, inadequate cancer-related infrastructure in the Valley and lack of awareness about the disease among people has compounded the problem.

Addressing ‘Autumn Seminar in Medicine’ wherein doctors including Cardiologists, Neurologists, Urologists, Orthopaedicians, Oncologists, Surgeons and other Super-specialists from across the country deliberated on the treatment advances in their respective fields. The seminar was organized by Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in association with

Healtheon Private Limited, Doctors Association Kashmir, Resident Doctors Association and GK Communications Private Limited at the SK International Convention Centre here.

In his paper ‘Scenario of Cancer in Kashmir—Limitations in Curative Treatment’, Dr Sanaullah Kuchai, Head and Consultant at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College, Srinagar said that five years ago (in 200708) the number of cancer patients registered at SMHS hospital were 352. “It has seen an abrupt increase in last one year (20112012) with nearly 1357 cases registered,” he said. Quoting data, Dr Kuchai said the Esophageal Cancer figured at the top followed by Breast and Stomach

cancer. “Among total cancer patients in valley around 66 percent get treatment at the Regional Cancer Center at SKIMS, 35 percent at GMC, Srinagar while only 5 percent of patients approach either to outside hospitals or NGOs,” he claimed.

According to him there is lack of awareness among people about the symptoms and possibility of cancer. “This leads to several misconceptions and increases the risk of the disease,” Dr Kuchai said. The oncologist said another major cause of cancer deaths was its late presentation before the practitioner.

“The involvement of quacks, inexperienced medical practitioners and post-referral delays make the situation difficult to handle,” he said.—NNI

Geelani: Kashmir not equipped for armed struggle against India

Er Rasheed reacts sharply to Indian army officer’s remarks

habitants. Right from early 90’s all people of this state have witnessed violations of their rights and property because militancy erupted and guerilla war was at the peak. The Kashmiris saw killings, rapes, disappearances and many more because this dispute was not resolved by its stake holders. This problem as we saw gave birth to the militants and pro freedom Hurriyat of this state.

During the past 22 years people saw blood more and the resolving efforts less. This strategy of keeping Kashmir dispute unresolved gave rise to poverty and unemployment. Aspirations of the common people were buried. No doubt many rounds of talks were held in order to resolve this long pending dispute but no out come has been revealed. After getting independence in 1947, the Prime Minister of India Late Jawaharlal

RAWALAKOT: AJK Social Welfare Minister Ms Farza Yaqub inaugurating construction of Luxury Flats on Tuesday.

PDP to form next government, work for Kashmir resolution: Mufti A CHABAL —Peoples Demo- veiling the party’s vision for faults and mistakes of the succratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed has announced that the future belonged to his party.

He also accused the ruling dispensation of being “immature” while dealing with the administration stating that previous regime worked in a “great coordination” with the same people. Addressing a gathering here in north Kashmir Mufti said grabbing power has never been the aim of his party. “My ultimate aim is to restore the dignity and honour of the people of JK. Until it is restored, neither Government of India nor Pakistan would be satisfied,” he said. Mufti did not touch the upcoming LC elections and instead shifted his focus towards strengthening the party and un-

Conflict within conflict Nehru on 26th of October 1947 said “………..that I should like to make it clear that question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not designed in any way to influence the State to accede to India.

Our view which we have repeatedly made public is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or state must be decided in accordance with wishes of people and we adhere to this view, it is quite clear. I have thought it desirable to inform you of situation because of its threat of international complications.” ?

(Excerpts of telegram dated 26 October 1947 from Jawaharlal Nehru to the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee). Nehru further says “”...our assurance that we shall

withdraw our troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order is restored and leave the decision regarding the future of the State to the people of the State is not merely a promise to your Government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world.”(Jawahar Lal Nehru, Telegram No. 25, October 31, 1947, to Liaqat Ali Khan, PM of Pakistan).Nehru again said that “”…….I wish to draw your attention to broadcast on Kashmir which I made last evening.

I have stated our government’s policy and made it clear that we have no desire to impose our will on Kashmir but to leave final decision to people of Kashmir. I further stated that we have agreed on impartial international agency like United Nations supervising

referendum.”

(Nehru’s reiteration of plebiscite pledge in a telegram to Liaqat Ali Khan, November 03, 1947).

Leaders like Nehru remained in touch with this dispute but time was going on at very high speed. After taking the case of Kashmir to United Nations Late Jawarlal Nehru declared that “Kashmir has been wrongly looked upon as a prize for India or Pakistan.

People seem to forget that Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered. It has an individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their future.”

(Addressing the All India Congress Committee on 6th July 1951, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of In-

dia) After Nehru no one tried to come forward to solve this dispute of nuclear flash point.

Pakistan have fought intermittently since April 13, 1984.

Both countries maintain permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 meters (20,000?ft). More than 2000 people have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of the mountain warfare.

Agreement” Shim la Agreement did not clearly mention who controlled the glacier, merely stating that from the NJ9842 location the boundary would proceed “thence north to the glaciers.”

UN officials presumed there would be no dispute between India and Pakistan over such a

2014 elections. “Let me assure you, future is ours, not for just forming the government but to work for the peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue,” he said.

Accusing the NC-Congress government of not dealing properly with the administration, the former Chief Minister said if “a mason makes lot of noise with his tools; he is not a good mason.” “We were working with the same people from 2002 to 2008,”said Mufti, who was accompanied by senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, former MLA Rafiabad Muhammad Dilawar Mir, PDP’s national spokesman Dr Sameer Kaul and party’s chief spokesman Nayeem Akhter.

He said Kashmiri people should not be blamed for the

cessive regimes. “In 1990, situation was so tense. Some mistakes may have happened as Kashmir was burning from all sides,” Mufti said. He said the United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Salahudin was known as Muhammad Yousuf and “there is no fault of people” in making him a militant. “Right from 1987, there has been no trust on the vote. But when PDP came into power, we showed the real power of the vote,” he said. “We appointed 70,000 Rehbar-eTaleem teachers, 30,000 Angawadi workers, and ensured the pension to widows through money order.”

He criticized the government for arresting youth and putting the separatist leaders under house arrest.—NNI

cold and barren region. But Siachen remained a military conflict between HYPERLINK. This is a region were Pakistan spends more than 5 arab rupees and India more than 30 arab rupees on their military personals. Recently a snow avalanche killed almost 140 soldiers of Pakistan in Giary sector of this Siachen Glacier. Only one thing is going on and on and that is the loss of precious lives whether of the Pakistanis or the Indians.

So Siachen became a conflict within a conflict.

Both these countries should take some bold steps in order to solve the conflict. But here arises a question when Siachen is present in Kashmir which is a conflict of all other conflicts then why Siachen got place with Sarkreek. s sarkreek has no mother conflict that should de discussed and must be

discussed for peace , and in order to solve the Siachen they should focus on the mother of all conflicts and that is Kashmir.

I have thought it desirable to inform you of situation because of its threat of international complications.” ?(Excerpts of telegram dated 26 October 1947 from Jawaharlal Nehru to the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee).

Nehru further says “”...our assurance that we shall withdraw our troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order is restored and leave the decision regarding the future of the State to the people of the State is not merely a promise to your Government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world.”Because Kashmir solved every thing solved. Author is Kashmir based political analyst.

—Kashmir Watch

ADB regional forum today Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD—A two-day Regional Forum on “Investing in Inclusive Business in Asia” will start from today (Wednesday)in Philippians which will highlight the innovative and impactful inclusive business models from across the region. The forum will review the growing interest of private investors in this marketplace, and discuss the important role development finance institutions (DFIs) can play in accelerating the growth and impact of this field in the region. The Forum will also discuss the findings and recommendations of various inclusive business market studies Asian Development Bank (ADB) has done in 10 Asian countries. The Forum will offer expert-led discussions for both experienced and new investors, inclusive business practitioners, thought leaders from academia and civil society, as well representatives of the development assistance community.

Rs 25m donated to IBA Staff Reporter KARACHI—A local company donated Rs. 25 million to the IBA for promoting quality education in Pakistan. Dean & Director IBA, Dr. Ishrat Husain and Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Getz Pharma, Mr. Khalid Mahmood signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a simple but impressive ceremony at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). The understanding aimed to establish strategic partnership between both the parties to promote academic and applied research in the country. This collaboration will focus on supporting students with financial needs to succeed in their academic and professional pursuits and will also be used in advancing social applications of research and fostering the growth of promising students. Emphasizing the importance of this strategic agreement.

PACA inks air services MoU Staff Reporter MUSCAT—Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with aviation authorities in Pakistan, Times of Oman has reported. The agreement with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) allows for increasing the number of seats to 2,600 between the Sultanate and Karachi airport as well as operating 16 weekly flights to a number of cities including Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot and Multan.

The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.

— John Maynard Keynes

Pak-US working to improve dairy farming: Raja STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that US and Pakistan are working to create an economic partnership based on trade, not just aid.

He was speaking to the closing ceremony of Pakistan Dairy Industry Conference here on Tuesday to highlight PakU.S. cooperation to help dairy farmers in growing their businesses.

US Ambassador Richard Olson said on the occasion that

Pakistan is one of the largest dairy producers in the world, and the United States is committed to working with dairy farmers to help them protect their livestock from disease, improve the quality of their products, and increase their profits.

Olson highlighted two U.S. assistance programs designed to achieve those objectives, the entrepreneurs project and the dairy project. The Entrepreneurs Project offers workshops to help Pakistani dairy farmers sharpen their business skills,

develop new products and services, and raise their incomes.

The Dairy Project is a public-private partnership with Nestle Pakistan and the Dairy and Rural Development Foundation that has trained 9,000 dairy farmers and 5,000 small agribusinesses to help them protect their livestock, improve the quality of their products, and increase revenue. These partnerships have produced results.

He told the audiences that through other initiatives that

NAEAC approves 46 degree programmes of agri institutions STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD —The Seventh Meeting of National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC) was held here on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Dr. M.E. Tusneem, Chairman NAEAC. Dr. Riaz Qureshi, Advisor, HEC and other Council Members representing the agriculture universities leading agroindustries and R&D institutions in public and private sectors also attended this meeting.

The Council approved the

recommendations of the Accreditation Inspection Committees (AICs) of 46 degree programs of different agriculture institutions including University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; University of the Punjab, Lahore; KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar; Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot; Islamia University, Bahawalpur; University College of Agriculture, BZU, Multan; Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam and University College of Agriculture, Sargodha University, Sargodha. besides the confirmation of the

minutes of the sixth meeting of the Council.

Annual Work Plan for FY 2012-13 was endorsed subject to minor modifications. Approval of the budget for FY 2012-13 was also accorded.

The Council members emphasized that Council may be provided adequate funds to implement its mandate to carry-out its major activities effectively including external evaluation and accreditation of degree programs, conduct of awareness seminars, strengthening of institutional database, etc.

India not Two-day seminar on technical serious in trade education from today on ‘Public partnership for voS TAFF REPORTER with Pakistan cational training’ which he STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Chairman Agri Forum Ibrahim Mughal has said India was not serious in trade relations with Pakistan, which is evident from its move of imposing 100 percent raise on duty on import of sugar from Pakistan.

Talking to media persons, he said India will have to import 2.5 million tones sugar this year due to decline in its domestic production. He said India was supposed to import sugar from Pakistan, but it chose to increase the import duty by 100 percent, hereby showing that it was not serious in trade with Pakistan. He said this move of India should serve an eye opener for Pakistani rulers, who were bent upon giving Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India. He said Pakistan was in a position to export 700,000 tones sugar to India this year, but India imposed such a heavy duty to deprive Pakistan of this advantage.

PESHAWAR—Chairman Skill Development Council (SDC) Peshawar Haji Muhammad Javed has announced to hold a two-day seminar on technical education and vocational training to be started from today (Wednesday).

The chairman stated this during a press conference here at a local hotel on Tuesday, in which he said that the seminars aimed at promoting technical education and vocational training in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP).

Giving details of the twoday seminar, he informed that experts, people from the industry and public sector institutes are going to participate in the seminars and deliberate on improving the current state of the affairs of TEVT. He said that the first day of the national level event, scheduled 28th November is

added would enrich the experiences of different stakeholders, government officials, trainers, national skill development experts to join hands with private sector so that their infrastructure, experiences could be utilized for producing skilled workforce not only for local industry but regional market would also take advantage of the skills availability.

In the second day, he maintained legislators, civil societies and other experts even from other provinces of the country were invited in the event and he added dialogue on skill development, political priority for developing the future generation would be taken to help to have better understanding for a skilled workforce and preference to the technical education and skilled development sector in KP.

support the agricultural sector, the United States has trained more than 750 veterinarians and lab technicians to prevent the spread of the deadly Foot and Mouth Virus, and provided vaccinations to protect 110,000 dairy cows, buffalo, and yaks from the disease.

“Since 2010, more than 22,000 dairy farmers affected by the devastating floods have been able to double their incomes Nabil Habayeb President and CEO General Electric Company of Middle East called on through the U.S.-funded Entre- Federal Minister for Water and Power Ch Ahmed Mukhtar. preneurs Project,” said Ambassador Olson.

Mobile phone service suspension affects 3G auctions ISLAMABAD—Due to suspension of cellular services, international investors reduced their interest in the process of auction of 3-G (Third Generation) licenses and the government will possibly face another Rs 80 billion loss in this regard.

It is said that the suspension of mobile phone service in the country, would further push the country to face Rs 80 billion during the fiscal year 2012-13.

The recent fact-finding survey revealed that frequent suspension of cellular services countrywide for the last three months affected the foreign investment as the investor were afraid of terrorism and suspension of service.

They were reluctant to invest in the information technology and its related sectors.

The businessmen expressed grave concern over the suspension of mobile phone service on Eid days and on other festivals because people excessively use mobile phones on these events. It would be difficult for the government to cope with the gap of Rs 80 billion in budget deficit after lacking interest of foreign investors in the auction of 3G licenses.—Online

Pakistan welcomes interest of Nigeria in oil, gas sector STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Dr. Asim Hussain

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources has said that the Government of Pakistan has provided friendly opportunities to foreign investors in the oil and gas sector under the new Petroleum Policy 2012.

Dr Asim Hussain stated this in a meeting with the Ambassador of Nigeria to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Dauda Danladi, who called on the Advisor here on Tuesday.

The Nigerian Ambassador apprised the Advisor that Nigeria is enriched with oil and gas resources and it has an estimated 184 TCF gas reserves.

The Government of Nigeria supports deregulation of the Petroleum Sector so that healthy competition is encouraged. H.E. Mr. Dauda Danladi, while referring to the recent D-8 conference, emphasized that in the spirit of mutual cooperation direct intervention on Government to Government basis is required in the Oil and Gas sector. The Ambassador also informed that Nigeria has established Free Zones for International E&P companies, which provides beneficial Dauda Danladi, Ambassador of Nigeria to Pakistan called on Dr Asim Hussain, Advisor to opportunities for Pakistani compaPM on Petroleum and Natural Resources. nies.

Fiscal gap seen at 6.5pc of GDP in FY13

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT bers, the full year fiscal deficit similar to the one registered in

was likely to stand around at 6.5 the same period last year.

Receipts of $1.8 billion CSF analyst Nauman Khan, this stood out as the single largest would be on the back of a likely factor in growth in non-tax revshortfall in tax revenue, higher enue, he said. subsidy outlay and higher develResultantly, the opment expenditures in the elec- government’s total revenue intion year. creased by 30 percent to Rs 692 Khan said the full year num- billion with 10 percent growth bers fare better than last year also witnessed in tax collections. deficit of 8.4 percent but comOn the other side, total expares unfavorably with last 10 penditure grew by 23 percent years and 20 years average of with 24 percent increase in cur5.1 percent and 5.6 percent, re- rent expenditure and 15 percent spectively. decline coming in development “Further, with threats per- expenditure. Digging in current sistent on the external account, expenditure, the increase came financing of fiscal deficit would primarily from 76 percent inremain a major concern for the crease in debt servicing, while 82 policy makers, particularly in percent increase was witnessed 2HFY13,” said the analyst. in general public services (this inAs per the latest fiscal op- cludes subsidy payments). Diseration numbers, 93 percent bursement in Public Sector Degrowth in non-tax revenue in velopment Programme expendi1QFY13 helped the deficit to ture declined by 15 percent, durremain at 1.2 percent of GDP ing 1QFY13.

KARACHI—Despite positives percent. According to Topline like the inflow of $ 1.8 billion from the United States in August this year under the long-withheld Coalition Support Fund (CSF), the country’s fiscal deficit for fiscal year 2012-13 is expected to swell by Rs 1.5 trillion or 6.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The official quarterly data, however, shows that fiscal gap between the federal government’s revenues and expenditures during July-OctFY13 set at Rs 284 billion compared Rs 257 billion of the corresponding quarter last year.

Latest fiscal operation numbers released by Ministry of Finance (MoF) depict a relatively curtailed fiscal deficit in 1QFY13, thanks to the CSF. The analysts believe that despite the subdued 1Q num-

IP gas pipeline project to create investment opportunities AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—The Consul General of Iran Abbas Ali Abdollahi has expressed his confidence that Pakistan Iran Gas Pipeline will go a long way in promotion of new investment opportunities and increase in mutual trade volume between the two countries.

Speaking at a reception in honor of the outgoing Iranian diplomat said that Iran has already laid 1200 Kilometer pipeline from Bunder Abbas to Balochistan Border; however, Pakistan has yet to implement the project in its area.

He said that Iran Bank Milli and National Bank of Pakistan should establish their branches in Iran and Pakistan respec-

tively. He offered to supply cheaper electricity to power ridden Pakistan. He proposed that Pakistani investors and exporters should hold exhibition at Zahidan, Iran and other parts of the Iran, for which Iranian government would extend full support and cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion Tariq Sayeed, Chairman, PakIran Business Council and Former Vice President of SAARC CCI underscored the need to further strengthening of economic and political relations between both the brotherly countries ofPakistan and Iran, and said that increase in bilateral trade can further promote regional trade. He hoped that mega joint investment projects,

like Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas Pipeline, would pave the way for further exploiting joint venture opportunities.

This was stated by him in a reception hosted in honour of Consul General of Iran, Abbas Ali Abdollahi to bid farewell upon completion of his assignment in Pakistan and acclaim services rendered by him during his stay in Karachi. Commercial Consulate of Iran Sultan Shahi, Visa Consellor Mr. Mahadi, Public Relation Officer Mr. Abidi, Vice President FPCCI Iqbal Dawood Pakwala, Khurram Sayeed, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Zakarya Usman, Mazhar Ali Nasir, Dawood Usman Jakhura, Shaukat Ahmed, Waheed Shah etc were also present on the occasion.

Pak ranks 3rd in climate-risk index DOHA—Despite severe flooding in 2011, Pakistan managed to drop itself from first, last year to third position this year in the league table for countries that were worst hit by extreme weather events in 2011, according to a ‘climate risk index 2013’ published here on Tuesday.

In 2011, the ranking of the most affected countries is led by Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, El Salvador and the Philippines.

The index, compiled by a European NGO, Germanwatch, was announced during an address at the United Nations Cli-

mate Summit in Doha, Qatar.

This is an annual pointer of which countries are most in need of shoring up defences against the extreme weather, which climate expert believed are expected to further increase, potentially with large scale dangerous impacts if the global community does not immediately scale up its action to mitigate climate change and to adaptation.

An exceptional accumulation of very severe natural catastrophes makes 2011 one of the highest-ever loss years on record. Remarkably, whenever an event of 2011 is addressed the

attribute “worst in countries’ history” is awarded, the index says.

According to the index in total, more than 530,000 people died as a direct consequence from almost 15,000 extreme weather events, and losses of more than 2.5 trillion USD occurred from 1992 to 2011. The tough monsoon season in Southeast Asia also caused substantial damage in Thailand’s neighbours. In Cambodia, the extreme rainfalls resulted in the worst floodings in decades killing about 250 people just as destroying houses and ruining rice crops.—Online

PSO on the road to integration

Cutting the fat by eliminating middle-men STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Naeem Yahya Mir, CEO & MD of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the nation’s largest Energy Company held a press conference at a local hotel to highlight his future expansion strategy for the oil giant.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Naeem stated that as part of his dream vision for PSO, he aimed to make the national giant an integrated energy company by incorporating all aspects of the product supply chain including exploration,

refining, distribution and shipping. Through this, the company will minimize dependence on foreign supply chains and follow the model of successful companies which have integrated multiple supply chain aspects within themselves. Mr. Naeem also said that PSO can only achieve this dream by connecting with upstream partners, introducing innovative ideas to beat the competition downstream and establishing control of its own product supply chain.

Furthermore, the CEO&MD outlined his goals of establishing PSO as the leading company

in Pakistan within a period of two years, a regional player in four years and a member of the ranks of global oil conglomerates such as PETROCHINA, PETRONAS-Malaysia, PETROBRAS -Brazil etc within six years.

Moving forward, the MDPSO outlined some of the new initiatives PSO has undertaken under his leadership including signing a Contract of Affreightment (COA) with Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) for importing furnace oil from foreign ports, development of a new oil

tanker mooring point and stor- Autogas stations in the upcoming year and agreements with PARCO, BYCO and Bakri Trading for the acquisition of POL products. Other major projects listed at the conference included establishment of a modern EURO IV capacity refinery in Khyber Pakhtunwa, acquisition of a refinery in the Naeem Yahya Mir, CEO & south of the country and setMD of Pakistan State Oil ting up a Base II lubricant refinery. He also plans to estabage facility at Hub which will lish a regional JV Aviation increase national storage ca- Company in the Middle East pacity and reduce congestion and is looking to expand into at the existing jetties, estab- the coal business in partnerlishment of over 100 LPG ship with other companies.

Furthermore, the MD stated that he had embarked on a program of cutting out middle-men and cost rationalization at PSO. He stated that by eliminating the addition of detergent additives in Mogas and Diesel, the Company would save approximately Rs. 635 Million/year, savings of Rs. 450 Million/year were also expected through the stoppage of war premium insurance payments on POL product imports. Additionally by uplifting products from local sources/ refineries, foreign exchange of approximately $200

Million would be saved annually and a further Rs. 500 Million will be saved by engaging the national flag carrier PNSC for transport of furnace oil.

Naeem further spoke on PSO’s enhanced customer focus activities which consisted of establishing VIP lanes for motorcyclists at retail outlets and development of a flagship retail outlet designed for premium customers which would offer only HOBC and branded consumer items at its store shop. He also commented upon some of the Company’s recent CSR ini-

tiatives including the establishment of ten (two in each province) Corporate Social Pumps in low income areas in partnership with the local populace and development of two streets in every province with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities in developing areas under its Street Support Program.

Committed to providing quality products and customer services to the citizens of Pakistan, PSO, the national energy giant remains committed to serving the fuel needs of the nation.

Banking spreads slide OBSERVER REPORT KARACHI—Latest figures released by the central bank show that the banking spreads for outstanding lending and deposits for the overall banking sector declined by 13 basis points month-on-month (MoM) during the month of October to reach at 6.77 percent.

The outstanding loans and deposits show the same trend, as 24bpsMoM decline was witnessed in loan rates while 11bpsMoM decline observed in deposits rate during the month in review.

“The declining trend is mainly due to the reduction of 200bps cut in DR by SBP since Aug-12,” said InvestCap analyst Mazhar A Sabir.

The average spreads of the banking sector during 10MCY12, Jan-Oct2012, stood at 7.11 percent as compared to 7.65 percent in the same period last year, registering a decline of massive 54bpsYoY. “Whereas, on comparing the current spreads (Oct-12) against the spreads of corresponding period previous year, we discover them wavered by 90bpsYoY,” said Sabir.

The weighted average deposit rates on outstanding deposits including zero markup, declined by 11bpsMoM to settle at 5.64 percent during October compared to deposit rate of 5.75 percent last month.

PTCL’s sponsors sports at local school STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD—As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Pakistan Telecommunications Company (PTCL) sponsored the sports day at Kainat Public School, Islamabad.

PTCL sponsored the event to spread awareness about importance of extracurricular and sporting activities amongst the youth. The event provided a tremendous opportunity to the youth to showcase their skills and talents through Football and Cricket Matches, Skits, Quiz shows and Art Competitions.

“Positive entertainment and sporting activities are imperative for the development of our youth,” said PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) Business Zone North, Abdul Sattar Naeem. “PTCL is striving to create a better tomorrow for the country’s youth by connecting them with the international information highway.”

Asian shares rise on positive U.S. tone, yen slips T OKYO—Asian shares rose, boosted by a positive tone in U.S. equities last week, while the yen fell to a near seven-month low against the dollar on expectations a new government after next month’s election in Japan may deliver more stimulus.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.6 percent, recovering from the nine-week low.

Its energy sector outperformed as mounting supply concerns on escalating tension from Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip and Hamas rocket attacks on Israel underpinned oil prices.

The material sector also were among top gainers as London copper rallied 1 percent to $7.684 a tonne on expectations for economic measures in China and hopes for a solution to the U.S. fiscal crisis. (MTL) Australian shares (.AXJO) inched up 0.2 percent but Shanghai shares (.SSEC) underperformed with a 0.3 percent drop, hovering near the sevenweek low touched.—Newswire

MoU signed with American Co for cooperation in livestock sector STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Chief Executive Officer Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board, Maj. Gen. (R) Muhammad Ali Khan has said that as a result of training and research agreement between Punjab government and American company World Wide Sire, betterment would be registered in the livestock sector by increasing genealogical capacity of animals, increasing their production and availability of quality semen which will lead to boosting milk and meat productivity.

He expressed these views during the signing ceremony of memorandum of understanding between Punjab government and

World Wide Sires, which was attended by Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Irfan Elahi, officers of Livestock Department and other important personalities. Maj. Gen. (R) Muhammad Ali Khan appraised the delegation about the activities of livestock sector through his detailed briefing. He said, under the agreement, both institutions will work in Punjab, which will make the farmers of Punjab prosperous, alongwith achieving self-sufficiency in the productivity of meat and milk.

The Chief Executive Officer informed that the delegation have visited Semen Production Unit Khizarabad Sargodha, Pakistan Army Semen Production Unit Okara, Safaher Dairy

Farm, AE Training Center Burj Attari, Nestle Dairy Farm Sukhaiki, over which the delegation have expressed their satisfaction.

Expressing their opinion, the members of the delegation said that Punjab has best breeding animals, and by improving their genealogical capability, Pakistan can achieve an important position in the livestock sector in the world. The delegation appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab for promotion and progress of livestock sector and KARACHI: Muhammad Haroon Agar, President KCCI presenting crest to Akira Ouchi. Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Nasir praised the ongoing activities of Mehmood, Vice President, Majyd Aziz, A.Q. Khalil, Asif Sheikh Javaid, Zahid Iqbal, Azhar Waseem, Ateeq ur Rehman, Punjab Livestock and Dairy De- Durre Shahwar Nisar and Naeem Ahmed, are also seen in the picture. velopment Board. The delegation also thanked Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board over their successful visit.

Air separation plant started

ZONG, Huawei establish GSM laboratory at NUST STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—ZONG - the international brand of China Mobile and Huawei - a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider have established a state-of-the-art GSM laboratory and training center at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to liaison with the telecom industry’s needs by creating a bridge between the academia and the corporate world.

With the expertise of China Mobile Pakistan and Huawei’s investment of US$ 1.3 million in hardware, the GSM laboratory will be providing exposure and hands-on experience of operating high-tech GSM equipments which can be used as platform for further Research and Development (R&D) for Value Added Services (VAS).

This lab is to be used for study purposes; the lab is a complete telephone network including a GSM mobile infrastructure with one MSC, one BSC and

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jian, Eng Mohd Asghar, Rector, NUST, Fan Yunjun, CEO, Zong and Geng Simeng, CEO, Huawei at the opening ceremony. one BTS, HLR and media gate- sibility as helping young people way. access quality technological The lab will also provide education will lay the foundathe platform for development of tion of cultivating talent necessoftware, tools and patches to sary for the advancement of inremove discrepancies. It will dustry and development in Pafamiliarize students with the kistan. fault, configuration, security, Speaking at the launch Chinetwork performance manage- nese Ambassador to Pakistan ment of telecom infrastructure. Mr. Liu Jian said “I am pleased Mr. Fan Yunjun, CEO, ZONG to learn that ZONG has initiated said that the GSM lab created such a marvelous project to help

by ZONG is a fundamental part the talented students accomplish of their corporate social respon- their goals.

Pak pavilion opened at Abu Dhabi’s food exhibition STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—The pavilion of Pakistan was opened at the SIAL Middle East Exhibition food exhibition being held in Abu Dhabi, that attracted visitors from different countries.

Jamil Ahmed Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to United Arab Emirates while talking to reporters after inaugurating the Pakistan Pavilion said UAE was an important regional hub but Pakistani exports does not benefit from opportunities offered here.

Pakistani food like rice, vegetables, fruits, spice, jams, pickles, and other food products are highly popular among the locals owing to there extraordinary natural taste.

Jamil Khan pointed out that

it was a matter of great pride and honour for Pakistan pavilion that it was specially visited by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and other members of the Royal Family. Both took keen interest in organic food and herbal drinks.

Ambassador Khan said that UAE is currently importing products around US$ 5 billion out of which Pakistani Market is only US$ 500 million which can be raised up to US$ 1 billion easily by establishing our brands in the region and spending on improving quality of packaging up to international standards.

He said the Chambers of

Commerce and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has to promote business trade and project quality products at the International level by ensuring the participation of Pakistani companies in these exhibitions and providing them space to display their products.

The Ambassador assured that all those visiting the Pakistan Pavilion will have a chance to meet with the leading food suppliers during the three-day event at this dedicated business platform.

Renowned food companies from Pakistan like Pakistan Rice complex, National Graze Pvt Ltd, Taj food Pvt Ltd, Aliza food Pvt Ltd, Mitco rice processing Ltd, Sufi group of companies, Quershi food pvt Ltd, have exhibited their products.

Double number offer STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Leading the innovation with many firsts in the telecom industry of Pakistan, Warid Telecom brings yet another exciting Double Number Offer which allows Warid users to get two numbers on one SIM without carrying two handsets or dual SIM handsets.

All Warid prepaid customers can avail this exciting offer. Warid customers can activate Double Number on their existing SIM by President RCCI Muzaffar Khurshid Shaikh presenting bousending SMS SUB to 3311. quet to Chairman BoI Saleem H Mandviwalla.

STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Linde Pakistan today inaugurated its new air separation plant installed at Sunder Industrial Estate in Lahore.

This new state-of-the-art plant is now the largest air separation plant in Pakistan, capable of producing 150 tons per day (tpd) of gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and argon for the merchant gases market. The investment value of the plant, along with related supply chain equipment, is more than Rs 2 billion.

Yousuf Mirza, Chief Executive of Linde Pakistan said, “Our new air separation plant in Lahore represents a milestone for our business as this is Linde’s fourth and largest air separation plant in Pakistan. The additional supply from this plant significantly enhances our ability to respond quickly and effectively to meet the gases requirements of our customers in the north, and further reinforces our position as the leading industrial gases player in Pakistan.”

Pak-India trade

USAID team holds interaction with businessmen STAFF REPORTER

L AHORE —A four-member USAID team Tuesday listened to the business community point of view on issues coming in the way of Pak-India trade through Wagah.

The team headed by Jim Sutton and comprising John Walker, Saradr Humayun and Ahsan Nadeem called on LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar and Executive Committee Members and shared salient features of the USAID Project on Pak-India trade. The LCCI former Senior Vice President Abdul Basit, former Vice Presidents Aftab Ahmad Vohra, Saeeda Nazar, Executive Committee members Aasia Saail Khan, Hassan Amjad, Amjad

Chaudhry, Mian Zahid Javed were prominent among the participants.

The team leader informed the LCCI President that the USAID Project is aimed at improving the customs system by getting implemented E-governance system that is universally accepted and recognized by all the countries. He said that the USAID team had meetings with Federal Minister for Commerce, Chairman FBR and they are willing to extend every possible help for the implementation of the system in letter and spirit.

The USAID is presently working on updating its Wagha Border Assessment Study with a view to catering the expected search in overland trade between

India and Pakistan. The updating version of the assessment will be providing the latest position covering the movement of freight by road and rail, the USAID team leader said. LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar appreciated ongoing USAID Trade Project for capacity building programme of concerned government departments including Federal Board of Revenue and Customs to improve regional and cross-border trade particularly with Afghanistan and India.

The LCCI President informed the USAID team that the slow pace of infrastructure development at Wagah is a matter of grave concern and needs to be expedited.

Ufone Winners of ‘10 say 10 lakh’ AMANULLAH KHAN K ARACHI —Ufone has announced the winners for the“10 say 10 lakh” offer and the ten lucky recipients of Rs.10 Lakh got to experience a lifetime opportunity which would change their lives.

It may be recalled here that Ufone had provided a chance for customers to win Rs 10 Lakh simply by consuming a balance of Rs.10 any day till November 10. Interestingly the more balance any customer consumed during this promotional period, the more chances accrued to the customer for winning cash prizes through a lucky draw. The lucky winners are Muhammad Usman (Kohat), Abdul Rasool (Shahdad Kot), Safeer Ahmed Sajan (Multan), Khalid Iqbal Burney (Karachi), Junaid Sukkur, Syed Khalid Hussain (Lahore), Shahid Iqbal (Jhang), Shabbir Hussain (Gujranwala), Qasim Jan (Swabi) and Shabana Bano (Karachi).

This offer was valid for existing, new prepaid customers and all those customers who reactivated their Ufone SIMs to cash in on the opportunity.

Qasim Jan from Swabi who received the prize of Rs 10 Lakh said, “I feel myself on top of this world after receiving the fabulous gift of Rs 10 lacs,” adding, “at the time of purchase of SIM, I preferred Ufone only because it offers low call rates, but I had no idea it offers tremendous prizes to its customers as well!”

About Ufone: Ufone is an Etisalat Group Company with its presence in all the major cities of Pakistan along with a comprehensive coverage across all major towns, villages and tehsil headquarters of the country.

Members of CNG Dealers Association led by Chairman Abdul Sami Khan called on Zuhair Siddiqui, MD SSGC at the Company’s head office to congratulate him on his appointment as MD.

LCCI worried over surge in crime rate STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Tuesday expressed grave concern over deteriorating law and order situation and called for stringent measures to control the situation that is getting out of hand with every passing day.

In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar, Senior Vice President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and Vice President Mian Abuzar Shad said that an alarming increase daylight robberies and dacoities is not only hitting businesses

hard but also causing flight of capital. The LCCI office-bearers said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is under tremendous pressure over law and order situation and wants of the government to announce formation of Businessmen-Police Liaison Committees at district level.

They said that provision of security to the citizens is government’s responsibility but unfortunately it has miserably failed to fulfill its responsibility. Business-friendly atmosphere is a pre-requisite to investment and industrialization.

Therefore the government

would have to listen to the business community point of view for bringing peace back to this land of opportunities.

The countries that were far behind us a few decades ago are now progressing leaps and bound while the economic situation in Pakistan is not satisfactory and this is only because of bad law and order situation. In 60s the collective exports of a number of Far Eastern Countries were much smaller than Pakistan and today each country has bigger export than Pakistan, They achieved this goal by giving due consideration to the proposals of their business communities.

Withdrawal of CADs demanded STAFF REPORTER PESHAWAR—President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Dr Mohammad Yusuf Sarwar while terming the directives of Collector Customs Appraisement (CADs), Karachi for filing transshipment permit and writing of item-wise details of imported goods by both banded carriers and clearing agents in the electronic system as illegal has demanded its immediate withdrawal.

In a statement issued here Monday, the SCCI chief said that clearing agents at the time of good declaration give full details of goods in their packing list.

He said that the making of the writing of the details of transshipment will not only cause delay in the clearing process, but also cause the burden of demurrage and detention expenditures on importers.

The decision, he said had taken in haste and without taking business community into confi-

dence. He said that delaying tactics in the clearance of goods will harm the utility of the dry ports and the importers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also have to face severe difficulties. The measure, he said will also affect the revenue of the state. He said that all details of the imported goods use to already register in import general manifest (IGM) while 100 per cent checking of TP consignment and the process of loading and unloading also damaged the packing of goods.

to 25 MAF, if all planned dams are not constructed until 2016.

The world is also facing a growing water and sanitation crisis that is killing more than 5,000 children a day in poor developing countries. The world over nearly 3 million people die, majority of them are women and children, every year due to contaminated water. . While each year about 1.8 million children die from diarrhea.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed by the leaders of 190 nations at a UN summit in New York in 2000, among other things, call for clean drinking water and sanitation for all people by 2015.

To avoid future water wars measures should be taken other wise over 50 countries in five continents could soon be in conflict,

if they do not agree for sharing rivers, aquifers and other sources of water. Already there is tension brewing in parts of Africa, the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Arabs.

Water is scarce in Pakistan while 92 percent of the land is covered by arid or semi arid regions. Moreover, the water resources are originated from the rivers of Indus that are seasonally fluctuated. About 25 percent of the GDP comes from agriculture that can not be done without water. Industrial usage of water is 1.6 million acre feet while 30 percent of country’s electricity is generated from water. However, the government claimed that there is no scarcity of water in the country. While annual loss of water is about $5 billion.

Water is becoming scarce ISMAT SABIR

T

O create awareness about the scarcity of water and importance of its conservation, World Water Day is celebrated every year across the world in March. Water is life but its scarcity is making lives of the people miserable day by day. The World Bank warned that in the next century wars will be for water, may be not directly. The world is moving fast towards regional and global conflicts about water. The world water consumption is doubling every 20 years that is twice the growth rate of population.

About 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 bil-

lion people do not have access to basic sanitation. About 1.5 million children, under the age of five, die each year due to water borne diseases. Almost 443 million school days are lost because of water and sanitation related diseases.

Personal and domestic uses of water account for less than ten percent of the total amount of water , while it should be significantly lower percentage. However, water scarcity is mainly due to unequal distribution of water causing insufficient access to water. Over 1.1 billion people lacked access to supply of clean water.

The figure does not include majority of people living in rural areas who are unable to afford water, who are facing prohibitive waiting times for collecting water, who receive water at occa-

sional intervals or have to collect water from dangerous and unsafe water reservoirs, WHO and UNICEF report indicated.

Moreover, about 700 million people in 43 countries suffer from water scarcity. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries with absolute water scarcity and two thirds of the world’s population would be living under water stressed conditions. Almost half the world’s population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi arid places will displace people between 24 to 700 million people. Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water stressed countries of any region.

A 2011 UN report has placed Pakistan among the water hot spots‘ of the region. It said that the country is facing major threat of increasing water scarcity. Pakistan is among the countries that had badly affected due to the changes in weather which have increased rain, floods, droughts and cyclones.

Pakistan‘s economy has been facing damages from natural disasters since 1991-95 the loss was $248 million or 0.4 percent of GDP. The water availability in Pakistan is continuously declining, both in total amount of water and the per capita water availability. In 1951, when population was 34 million, per capita availability of water was 5,300 cubic meters, which has now decreased to 1,105 cubic meters, reached water scarcity level of 1,000 cubic meters. This level

reached in 2010 instead of 2015, table-1.

The existing water storages are depleting rapidly and ground water level has also dropped in many areas of the country. At present, the country is facing water shortage of 13 percent, which was to increase to 21 percent in 2011 and 50 percent in 2025. The reports show that water shortage is a problem but contaminated water is another serious problem in Pakistan. In some areas contaminated water percentage is as high as 100 percent, e.g. in Ziarat it is 92 percent, in Sargodha 87 percent, Hyderabad 77 percent and 75 percent in Karachi and Sukkur. Contaminated water is amongst the ten greatest risks to human health.

Due to contaminated water

over 10,000 people die every year of renal infections. Patients with water borne diseases admitted to hospitals and occupy about 40 percent beds in the hospitals.

Medical experts say, 80 percent of all Pakistani children admitted into hospitals are suffering from water borne diseases. The Pakistan Government also said providing clean drinking water is the constitutional responsibility of all the provincial governments and companies to make all the clean water plants operational that were installed under CDWI. To improve water availability WAPDA Vision 2025 was made but the delays in timely implementation has created problem in water availability. The current water shortage of 9 million acre feet would further increase

‘Voice of reason’

Arafat’s remains to be exhumed for poison check

No autopsy was carried made public following his body was delayed as late as R AMALLAH —Forensic ex- After all this time, today they said Darcy Christen, spokesTOKYO—Japan’s ruling Democrats cast perts took samples from suddenly want to find out the man for Lausanne University out at the time, at the request death and still have not been “October or November.” Not

themselves on Tuesday as the voice of reason on diplomacy and the economy as they headed for a general election, highlighting a contrast with the hawkish rhetoric and aggressive monetary policy recipes of their rivals. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his party vowed to defend national interests, including a chain of rocky East China Sea islets controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan, but would do so with diplomacy and “responsible defence.” “There are issues concerning sovereignty, territories and territorial waters, but we must adhere to the peaceful path we have followed since World War Two,” Noda told journalists while unveiling the manifesto for the December 16 general election. “At the same time, we must respond in a cool-headed, practical and strategic manner.” Noda’s Democrats trail the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), whose leader Shinzo Abe, 58, stole the thunder early on with promises to stand up to Beijing and calls for “unlimited” monetary stimulus from the central bank. Abe, who hopes to return to the prime minister’s post he quit in 2007 after just one year on office, has called for reversing a long decline in Japan’s defence spending and changes in its pacifist constitution to allow its military to play a more active role. He also wants the Bank of Japan to agree with the government on an inflation target. Despite criticism that this could infringe on central bank independence, Abe repeated his call on Tuesday. “The 1 percent ‘goal’ already announced by the bank won’t do. It must instead be a ‘target’ of 2 percent,” Abe told a symposium on Japan’s growth strategy.—Reuters

Yasser Arafat’s buried corpse in the West Bank on Tuesday, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-totrace radioactive poison, Polonium. Palestinians witnessed the funeral of their hero and longtime leader eight years ago, but conspiracy theories surrounding his death have never been laid to rest.

Many are convinced their icon was the victim of a cowardly assassination, and may stay convinced whatever the outcome of this autopsy. But some in the city of Ramallah where he lies deplored the exhumation. “This is wrong.

truth?” said construction worker Ahmad Yousef, 31, who stopped to watch the disinterment, carried out behind a wall of blue plastic near the Palestinian presidency headquarters. “ T h e y should have done it eight years ago,” he said. French magistrates in August opened a murder inquiry into Arafat’s death in Paris in 2004 after a Swiss institute said it had discovered high levels of polonium on clothing of his which was supplied by his widow, Suha, for a television documentary. “Samples will be taken according to a very strict protocol and these samples will be analyzed,”

Hospital in Switzerland that carried out the original tests on Arafat’s clothes.

“In order to do these analyses, to check, crosscheck and double crosscheck, it will take several months and I don’t think we’ll have anything tangible available before March or April next year,” he added. Arafat was always a freedom fighter to Palestinians but a terrorist to Israelis first, and a partner for peace only later.

He led the bid for a Palestinian state through years of war and peacemaking, then died in a French hospital aged 75 after a short, mysterious illness.

of Suha, and French doctors who treated him said they were unable to determine the cause of death. But allegations of foul play immediately surfaced, and many Palestinians pointed the finger at Israel, which confined Arafat to his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah for the final two and a half years of his life after a Palestinian uprising erupted.

Israel denies murdering him. Its leader at the time, Ariel Sharon, now lies in a coma from which he is expected never to awake. Israel invited the Palestinian leadership to release all Arafat’s medical records, which were never

opene Polonium, apparently ingested with food, was found to have caused the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. But some experts have questioned whether Arafat could have died in this way, pointing to a brief recovery during his illness that they said was not consistent with radioactive poisoning.

They also noted he did not lose all his hair.

Eight years is considered the limit to detect any traces of the fast-decaying polonium and Lausanne hospital questioned in August if it would be worth seeking any samples, if access to Arafat’s

all of Arafat’s family agreed to the exhumation, and his wife Suha chose not to attend the operation she had prompted.

Working in parallel with the forensic team, French magistrates were in Ramallah this week to ask if members of Arafat’s inner circle might be able to shed light on his death. One source told Reuters the French had a list of 60 questions, and had questioned one man for five hours. Many Palestinians acknowledge that a Palestinian would almost certainly have had to administer any poison, wittingly or unwittingly.—Reuters

Security dominates EU talks in Central Asia

Belarus dictator M INSK —He is a pariah in the West, viewed suspiciously by Russia and loathed by opponents in exile or jail, but Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is relishing his notoriety as Europe’s last dictator. After 18 years in power, the blunt, forceful and heavily built former state farm manager shows no sign of bowing to Western pressure to relax his grip on the former Soviet republic squeezed between Russia and the European Union. Always defiant, often cantankerous and sometimes provocative, Lukashenko has added irony to his armoury to deflect Western politicians’ criticism, touting their dictator tag as a badge of honour. “I am the last and only dictator in Europe. Indeed there are none anywhere else in the world,” he told Reuters in a rare interview in the capital Minsk in which he repeatedly referred to himself as a dictator and to his rule as a dictatorship. “You came here and looked at a living dictator. Where else would you see one? There is something in this. They say that even bad publicity is good publicity.” Lukashenko’s words are delivered with a wry grin Egyptians carry a protester wounded in clashes with security forces near Tahrir Square, where an opposition rally and a wave of his immense hands, and appear intended to was called for to voice rejection of President Morsi’s seizure of absolute powers, in Cairo. taunt the critics whose calls for more economic and political freedom have gone largely unheeded since he first became president in 1994. The 58-year-old leader does not tire of telling guests that Belarus is the geographical centre of Europe. But the country of 9.5 million does not share the same democratic values as its western neighbours. Minsk’s broad thoroughfares are still lined with monolithic Soviet-era buildings.—Reuters BEIRUT—Activists say SyrMorsi’s supporters can- ian warplanes have bombed C AIRO —Egyptian protest- their union building in downTzipi Livn to contest polls ers and police clashed in town Cairo ahead of their celed a massive rally they an olive press factory in the JERUSALEM—Former Foreign Minister Cairo on Tuesday just march to Tahrir. “Leave, had planned for Tuesday, country’s north, killing and Tzipi Livni announced her candidacy on hours ahead of a planned leave,” they chanted, ad- citing the need to “defuse wounding dozens of people.

Tuesday in a January general election, massive rally by opponents dressing Morsi. The rally tension” after a series of Two activist groups the Britpledging to “fight for peace” with the Pal- of the country’s Islamist planned for later Tuesday, clashes between the two ain-based Syrian Observaestinians as a centrist alternative to president demanding he re- with marches from various camps since the decrees tory for Human Rights and Israel’s right-wing leadership. 22 election scind decrees that granted parts of Cairo to converge on were issued Thursday. But a the Local Coordination Comby running for office as head of a new him near-absolute powers. Tahrir, is to be a significant spokesman for the Muslim mittees say the factory is political party she vowed would “fight for Police fired tear gas and test of the opposition’s abil- Brotherhood, the fundamen- west of the city of Idlib. peace.” Livni, voted out as the head of hundreds of protesters ity to bring out supporters talist group from which The LCC says at least 20 the main opposition Kadima party in an pelted them with rocks at a and the public against Morsi hails, said demonstra- people were killed and many internal ballot in March, told a news con- street between the U.S. Em- Morsi’s edicts issued last tions supporting the presi- others wounded in ference she had formed a new party, “Hat’nua” (The Move- bassy and Tahrir Square, week. The opposition says dent could go ahead outside Tuesday’s raid, while the ment). Opinion polls predict Livni will win seven to nine of birthplace of the uprising the decrees give Morsi near the capital and that support- Observatory says “tens were parliament’s 120-seats, grabbing votes from left-of-centre fac- that toppled president dictatorial powers by neu- ers would form human killed or wounded.” Both tions and not generating enough support to unseat Prime Hosni Mubarak’s authoritar- tralizing the judiciary at a chains in some provinces to groups depend on a network Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc. Livni, a 54- ian regime nearly two years time when he already holds protect Brotherhood offices. of activists on the ground executive and legislative Morsi’s supporters say more around the country. year-old corporate lawyer, was once touted as Israel’s next ago.

Golda Meir—the only woman who ever served as prime minPresident Bashar The protesters have powers. Key parts of the ju- than a dozen of their offices ister. As foreign minister from 2006 to 2009, during Ehud been staging a sit-in at the dicial system have de- have been ransacked or set Assad’s regime has been Olmert’s premiership, she was appointed to the high-profile square since Friday night to nounced the measures. ablaze since Friday. launching intense raids on On Monday, Morsi met rebels in recent months. task of heading peace talks with the Palestinians. But the demand President Morsi, in office since June, negotiations failed, Olmert was forced to step down in a cor- Mohammed Morsi revoke says the decrees are neces- with the nation’s top judges Syria’s conflict started in ruption scandal, and while Kadima won more votes than Likud his decrees. By mid-day, sary to protect the “revolu- and tried to win their accep- March 2011 as an uprising in the ensuing 2009 parliamentary election, Netanyahu hundreds were starting to tion” and the nation’s tran- tance of his decrees. against Assad’s regime, but But the move was dis- quickly morphed into a civil outmanoeuvred Livni to form a broad coalition government. gather in Tahrir, chanting sition to democratic rule. His Her return to frontline politics will further fracture Israel’s against Morsi’s decrees and declaration made all his de- missed by many in the op- war that has since killed more centre-left, with a slew of parties courting the same pool of the Brotherhood. A new cisions immune to judicial position and the judiciary as than 40,000 people, accordvoters and rejecting suggestions that they should merge to banner in the square pro- review and banned the providing no real conces- ing to activists.—Reuters Presidential form a stronger.—Reuters claimed, “The Brotherhood courts from dissolving the sions. stole the country.” “We are upper house of parliament spokeman Yasser Ali, said here to bring down the con- and an assembly writing the Morsi told the judges that he Two Korea end car war SEOUL—One of the more bizarre joint ven- stitutional declaration is- new constitution, both of acted within his rights as the tures in car-making is set to come to an sued by Morsi,” said one which are dominated by Is- nation’s sole source of legat Tahrir, lamists. The decree also gave islation, assuring them that end following the death of the head of protester Morsi sweeping authority to the decrees were temporary M INSK —Russian President Mahmoud Youssef.

South Korea’s Unification Church which Putin’s back stop any “threats” to the and did not in any way in- Vladimir Hundreds of lawyers it is to give its stake in the Pyeonghwa fringe on the judiciary.—AP troubles stem from a recent Motors operation to North Korea. meanwhile gathered outside revolution. bout of judo, according to the Pyeonghwa, which produces models leader of the neighbouring based on ageing Fiat SpA designs as well state of Belarus. “I know he as those of Brilliance China Automotive has this problem. He loves Holdings, is the sole carmaker in isolated judo. He lifted a guy, threw North Korea, although few of its impovhim, and twisted his spine,” erished citizens are able to afford its products. “Pyeonghwa Belarussian President Motors’ South Korean side is planning to pull out from the Alexander Lukashenko told joint automaker and donate its 70 percent stake to the North,” G OMA —Rebels in DemoBut the political chief of solution to the problems that said a source familiar with the transaction, who declined to be cratic Republic of Congo M23, Jean-Marie Runiga, told have poisoned our society Reuters in an interview.

Lukashenko had been identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Spokesmen for said on Tuesday they would reporters in Goma his forces and politics,” he said. hoping to play ice hockey the church were not immediately available for comment. Sun withdraw from the eastern would withdraw only if Kabila “We are fighting to find with Putin but the Kremlin Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church and a city of Goma only if Presi- held national talks, released solutions to Congo’s probsprawling business empire, died in September aged 92. He dent Joseph Kabila agreed political prisoners and dis- lems. Withdrawal from Goma leader postponed the match, was born in what is now North Korea The church’s joint to their demands, which the solved the electoral commis- is not a precondition to ne- he said. “He tells me: ‘We are venture with North Korea, set up in 2002, was one of the few Congolese government was sion, a body accused by gotiations but a result of not prepared yet to take on to survive a freeze in relations between the North and South quick to dismiss as a farce. Western powers of delivering them,” he said. The conflict- your team.’ He has damaged following the shooting of a South Korean tourist in 2008 by The deadlock raises the risk Kabila a second term in ing statements indicated a his spine somewhere. In a North Korean troops. “The Unification Church’s Moon made that the eight-month-old in- flawed 2011 polls. “The with- solution to the insurgency in judo match. He was on the a will to give back the auto business with the North before he surgency could turn into an drawal, yes. If Kabila agrees eastern Congo, which has mat and hurt his spine,” passed away. It is not because its business wasn’t doing all-out war in a region to our demands then we’ll go displaced 140,000 civilians Lukashenko said. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov well,” said the source.—Reuters dogged by nearly two de- quickly,” Runiga told report- according to the United Na- declined to comment. The cades of conflict that has ers in a hotel in Goma, flanked tions, was not close. former Soviet republic of Rice to discuss Libya with McCain Lambert Mende, Congo’s Belarus has close but somekilled more than 5 million by senior M23 officials in cispokesman, times rocky relations with its WASHINGTON—U.S. Ambassador to the people, fuelled by competi- vilian clothes and rebels in government quickly dismissed M23’s de- former colonial master.

United Nations Susan Rice will meet with tion over mineral resources. military fatigues.

Runiga said Kabila’s gov- mands. “It’s a farce, that’s the The M23 rebels, who lawmakers this week to discuss her conPutin, a judo black belt troversial remarks about the September U.N. experts say are backed ernment was rotten with cor- word. There’s been a docu- who began a six-year presilamented the ment adopted by the region. dential term in May and attack in Benghazi, Libya, that have by Rwanda and who say ruption, caused hurdles for her potential promo- they want to “liberate” all of country’s dilapidated roads, If each day they’re going to turned 60 in October, was tion to secretary of state. The move, an- Congo, captured Goma last and said Congo’s only come back with new demands seen limping at an Asia-Panounced shortly after a top critic said he week after Congolese sol- schools and hospitals had it becomes ridiculous. We’re cific summit in the Russian would be open to speaking to her, could diers withdrew and U.N. been left by Belgian former no longer in the realm of se- port of Vladivostok in early fuel speculation that she is gunning for peacekeepers gave up de- colonial rulers. He said any riousness,” Mende told September. the nation’s top diplomatic job.A Senate fending the city. The Ugan- talks would have to tackle Reuters from Kinshasa.

A former KGB officer who aide said that Rice would meet with McCain as well as Sena- dan military, which has been such issues. “We want the Later in the day, Ugandan enjoys vast authority at the tors Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte, fellow Republicans coordinating talks with M23, involvement of the political military chief Aronda head of Russia’s so-called who have also criticized Rice. An Obama administration offi- said earlier on Tuesday that opposition, civil society and Nyakayirima read out the ‘vertical’ power structure, cial said Rice and Michael Morell, CIA’s acting director, would M23 leader Colonel Sultani the diaspora so we can tackle withdrawal plan to reporters, Putin has long cultivated a meet with officials on Capitol Hill but declined to give details Makenga had agreed to with- these issues together, so that but made no mention of tough-guy image that about timing. “She and Mike Morell are meeting with folks on draw from Goma with no the people hear the truth and M23’s apparent rejection of wouldn’t sit well with prothat once and for all we find a the plan.—Reuters conditions. the Hill about Libya this week,” the official said.—Reuters longed illness.—Reuters

Clashes resume in Cairo ahead of opposition rally

20 dead, several hurt in Syrian forces raid

Putin injured spine in judo bout

Congo rebels set conditions for Goma withdrawal

B ISHKEK —Security issues dominated talks between the European Union’s top envoy and Central Asian diplomats Tuesday as the looming withdrawal of the international military coalition from Afghanistan raises the specter of regional instability.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said after a meeting with regional foreign ministers in Kyrgyzstan, host of a vital U.S. air base, that Europe’s growing interest in Central Asia was based on shared security challenges.

“In this region, we face increasing and new challenges. We talked about developments in Afghanistan and the importance of the future of that country,” Ashton said. Ashton said she wanted to see deeper cooperation on energy and trade with Europe, but avoided addressing what advocacy groups say are worsening political freedoms in Central Asia.

“We want to support you

on the efforts that you’re making on political and economic reform, so that we can unlock the potential in the relationship between us,” Ashton said. Ashton will also visit Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan over the coming week.

All these countries have expressed anxiety about the potential for spillover from unrest in Afghanistan after the U.S. drawdown in 2014.

Another threat to the stability of the region discussed Tuesday was the rivalry over water resources between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which has tested relations among the mainly Muslim former Soviet states to breaking point.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s hopes of developing hydropower are resisted by Uzbekistan, a populous nation of almost 30 million that sees the creation of dams as a threat to its substantial agricultural industry.—AP

Doctors, patients rage at Madrid hospital cuts M ADRID —Ever since her father had his heart attack years ago, 76-year-old Maria has been fiercely devoted to Spain’s public hospitals.

Now that authorities are planning to privatize parts of them, she is outraged. “At half past three I saw he was not well. I called our private health care provider and they told me they had no doctors available,” she said, standing in her local Madrid hospital, festooned with angry red-painted banners.

“So I called the public health service. They sent an ambulance. He got to hospital by ten to four. They saved his life by being so quick,” added Maria, who would not give her surname. “We have a health system that is the envy of the world and they want to dismantle it, and we will be the ones to pay.”

Maria attends daily meetings of concerned citizens at Madrid’s La Princesa University Hospital, where she and her family have been treated — and now she and other users have been joined in their outcry by doctors.

Madrid’s conservative regional government insists its hospitals plan is necessary for Madrid to meet its tough deficit targets and de-

nies it is privatizing or dismantling La Princesa. “We have an excellent system of quality public health for all, but in the current situation we do not have enough revenue for it all to keep working as it does,” it said in a statement. “The reduction we have to make in health spending in Madrid is equivalent to the current budget of two hospitals. The most direct route would have been to close hospitals, but this government believes there are alternatives.”

The Madrid government said it planned to make savings in the 2013 budget by outsourcing non-health services such as cleaning to private companies and hiring private firms of doctors to provide health care in some centers. That “is a common model in Europe” and “generates greater incentives and motivation for professionals,” it said. On Monday minimum services were in operation to ensure emergency rooms stayed open as doctors demonstrated at hospitals such as La Princesa and La Paz in northern Madrid.

Appointments to see the doctor were disrupted, however, with long queues in some waiting rooms.—AP

Vietnam refuses to stamp new Chinese passport HANOI—Vietnamese immigra- border gate,” the guard added. tion officers said Tuesday they were refusing to stamp entry visas into controversial new Chinese passports which feature a map of Beijing’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam has said the computer-chipped passports violate its sovereignty and has demanded Beijing withdraw the documents, which show the contested Paracel and Spratly Islands as Chinese territory.

“We do not stamp the new Chinese passports,” said an official at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, the country’s main international gateway. “We issue them a separate visa,” said the official, who did not want to be named. A border guard in northern Lang Son province said they were also not stamping the new passports but issuing separate visas to Chinese arrivals. Even with the new passports, however, “Chinese citizens can still travel normally through the

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday that he was not aware of Vietnam’s refusal to stamp visas in China’s new passports. Beijing has attempted to downplay the diplomatic fallout from the recently introduced passports, with the foreign ministry arguing the maps were “not made to target any specific country.”

Microblog users in China complained the immigration rules for the new passports were causing inconvenience and delays on arri. India has started stamping its own map onto visas issued to Chinese visitors as the map shows the disputed border areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of Chinese territory. Manila, which claims part of the Spratlys, sent Beijing a formal protest letter last week, calling the maps “an excessive declaration of maritime space in violation.—AP

Samaraweera keeps Kiwi attack at bay COLOMBO—Thilan Samaraweera hit a half-century under pressure to lead Sri Lanka’s recovery on the third day of the second and final Test against New Zealand at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka were in big trouble on 103-5 before finishing the day on 225-6 in reply to New Zealand’s firstinnings 412, thanks to the middle-order batsman’s defiant 76 not out off 156 deliveries.

Samaraweera, who had injured his finger while field-

N Zealand 1st innings: 412 Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 43-3): Paranavitana c van Wyk b Southee ....................... 40 T. Dilshan b Southee ...... 5 Sangakkara c Boult b Southee ......................... 0 Jayawardene c Williamson b Boult .............................. 4 A. Mathews c Guptill b Southee ....................... 47 T. Samaraweera not out 76 Jayawardene c Williamson b Patel ............................. 12 S. Randiv not out .......... 34 Extras: (lb3, nb3, w1) ....... 7 Total: (for six wickets) 225 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 312, 4-102, 5-103, 6-128 Bowling: ........... O-M-R-W Southee .............. 19-3-51-4 Boult ................... 17-5-34-1 Patel .................... 22-3-47-1 Astle ................... 13-2-41-0 Bracewell ............ 13-1-44-0 Williamson .......... 2.2-1-5-0

ing, received valuable support from lower-order batsman Suraj Randiv, who made a resolute 102-ball 34 not out, his highest score in 12 Tests.

The pair had added 97 and helped their team avoid the follow-on when bad light stopped play with 25.4 overs remaining in the day, but the tourists were in control.

Sri Lanka, leading the series 1-0 following their 10wicket win in the opening Test, were still 187 behind with four wickets in hand.

“He (Samaraweera) didn’t take an injection but took some oral pain killers.

He had some strapping and some stitches yesterday,” said Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford. “It hasn’t been comfortable for him but it goes on to prove how tough the man is both mentally and physically. He got out there and did the job for us.

“I am feeling a lot happier than I was in the first session.

It’s been pleasing to see the way the boys dug deep and fought really hard to get us into a much more respectable position.”

Fast bowler Tim Southee, who took two wickets in an over on Monday, had Sri Lanka—resuming on 43-3— in trouble in the morning when he struck twice before Samaraweera and Randiv steadied the innings.

“It would have been nice to have a couple of more (wickets) today to really get into their tail, but it’s a tough batting line-up.

They keep coming one

after another and it just shows their great batting depth,” said Southee.

“It’s a massive hour tomorrow morning and if we can pick a couple of wickets and run through them, then who knows. I hope we can make the most of the position we got them in.” Angelo Mathews and opener Tharanga Paranavitana put on 90 after three wickets had fallen for just 12 on Monday but Southee dismissed them in successive overs.

Paranavitana (40) edged the paceman to wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk while Mathews (47) fell to a superb one-handed catch by Martin Guptill, who held the ball low to his right in the slips.

New Zealand had wasted an earlier chance to break the fourth-wicket stand when skipper Ross Taylor dropped Paranavitana at first slip off fast bowler Trent Boult when the batsman was on 32.

Mathews played some aggressive shots in the morning, lofting off-spinner Jeetan Patel over wide long-on for the first six of the innings and then cutting the bowler past point for four. Southee had taken four wickets for 51 off 19 overs by the close of play.

The paceman dismissed Angelo Mathews (47) and opener Tharanga Paranavitana (40) in successive overs before Sri Lanka reached 107-5 in their first innings at lunch in reply to New Zealand’s 412. The hosts added 64 to their overnight total of 43-3 in the morning session.—APP

COLOMBO: Thilan Samaraweera and Suraj Randiv punch gloves during their stand, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, 3rd day.

Chinese coach for badminton to arrive soon ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) is in negotiation with the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) to hire a competent Chinese coach for national outfit gearing up for the South Asian Games, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in February, next year.

Two national coaches are already providing training to the national players at a camp setup in Sports Complex Islamabad last week.

However, according to PBF Secretary Imtiaz Gill, a Chinese coach would arrive in Pakistan in the country soon.

“We are in talks with the BAC and Chinese Badminton Federation and are expecting the coach will arrive within two weeks,” Gill told APP on Monday.—APP

All-Pakistan InterUniversity Men Athletic C’ship P ESHAWAR —The 36th edition of the All-Pakistan InterUniversity Men Athletic Championship will start under the aegis of Sarhad University for Science & Information Technology Peshawar from December 67 here at the Tartan Track, Qayyum Sports Complex.

This was stated by Vice Chancellor of the Sarhad University Peshawar Dr.Salim-ur-Rehman while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.

Director of the University Dr. Wahid Mughal, Director Sports and former International Athlete Muhammad MULTAN: Players in action during Inter-School and College Basketball Tournament Shah, other faculty members were also present during the on Tuesday. press conference.—APP

New Zealand Cricket Players Association reacts strongly to India’s possible cancellation of tour in 2014 BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT M UMBAI —New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) has reacted strongly to the possible cancellation of India’s tour of New Zealand which is scheduled to take place in Feb-March 2014.

In order to give players a break before the 2014 summer tour of England, it is reported that the BCCI is considering to cancel this tour.

“These reports stagger

me and I couldn’t believe that the BCCI would contemplate not touring NZ”, Heath Mills, the players association chief said exclusively from Auckland.

“The tour to New Zealand is part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) and not an ‘add on’ series so there are obligations on India to tour. The whole international programme is based on the FTP and that is how countries plan for the future.

If people can pick and choose if they play or not then we might as well not have the FTP”, Mills added.

“Workload is an issue in cricket for everyone but you can’t pull out of tours for that reason. NZ recently completed a tour to India and our guys have pretty much been on the road non-stop since June….but we haven’t pulled out of obligations to other countries in spite of how tough the workload has been”, he further added.

“I am sure sanity will prevail”, he signed off.

If the media rights for the series is sold out, then the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) may insist for the tour.

IPL franchises begin search for Pakistani players NEW

D ELHI /L AHORE — league. Pakistani players player said.

Some franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have reportedly begun search for signings from Pakistan ahead of the players auction of the tournament that is due to be held in January.

Sources close to some of the national team players told media that inquiries had already started coming in from interested franchises in the IPL. “Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings are among those said to be making inquiries in the initial stages over the availability of Pakistani players and their base prices,” one source stated.

The BCCI, which owns the IPL, is yet to announce a policy over the participation of Pakistani players in the

have not been able to take part in the lucrative league since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 although in the inaugural edition, a number of them featured for different teams.

Some of the Pakistani players have made no bones of the fact that they are keen to be part of the IPL, which offers lucrative money. ” If we get a chance to play in the IPL it would be great as it is not only about the money but also about being able to compete against and alongside top players of the world,” a national team player said. ” It all depends on what our board says. If it gives us clearance fine but if it says no we can’t do anything directly,” another

Sources in the board said that they had asked the BCCI for clarity on whether Pakistani players would be part of the players auction. ” The board will decide after getting a reply from the BCCI since it is their tournament,” a source said. He said as a policy matter it was decided that players would be able to sign up with franchises through the boards.

“I think once the clearance comes it will be the board which will send names of players who can be part of the auction and even if some franchise approaches anyone directly, he will have to get clearance from the board,” the source stated.—INP

Ponting’s Ashes avenue kept open ADELAIDE—Selection panel support for Ricky Ponting’s place in the Australian Test team remains unanimous, and the coach Mickey Arthur has stated emphatically that the former captain is still a muchneeded component in plans for next year’s Ashes series.

In a staunch defence of Ponting, Arthur said there had been no discussion about his place in the team in the selection meeting to choose an extended squad for the third Test against South Africa in Perth, and that the panel’s eyes were still on Ponting’s usefulness over the next six months, leading into the first of two backto-back bouts with England.

“All I know is inside that dressing room, and privately, we’ve all backed Ricky

Ponting,” Arthur said. “If Ricky’s scoring runs, we certainly want Ricky Ponting around for the next six months.

We want Ricky Ponting to go to the Ashes, there’s no doubt

about that. Like any batsman, though, you’ve got to keep scoring runs, and that’s by Ricky’s own admission. I’m 100% sure and confident Ricky will come through in Perth.

“We’re hoping, we back Ricky, we unanimously back Ricky Ponting to get us some runs. By his own admission Perth is a big test for him ... but Ricky’s prepared brilliantly, he’s really given us everything we can possibly ask for.”

Ponting, who has been named captain of the Prime Minister’s XI to play West Indies in Canberra on January 29, had said he expected to discuss his future with the selectors ahead of the Perth Test, given a poor run of scores in this series.—Agencies

Asif storms in World Snooker knock-out rounds K ARACHI —Demonstrating another powerful show Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif stormed into the knock-out rounds of IBSF World Snooker Championship in Sofia (Bulgaria) when he outpotted Fabian Louison of France 4-0 on Tuesday evening.

With his third straight win in pool “H”, Asif maintained his top spot in the fivemen group.

30-year-old Asif, who lost in the last 32 rounds in the world championship in Hyderabad, India, last year produced a spectacular potting and safety play against Louison.—APP

Pentangular Cup Disabled T20 Cricket opens today KARACHI—The third edition of Pentangular Cup Disabled Twenty20 Cricket Tournament will explode into action at two grounds of the city today (Wednesday).

The event was originally to be held from November 28 to December 1. But due to some avoidable circumstances,the dates and slight alterations have also been made in venues, Secretary,Pakistan Disable Cricket Association (PICA) Amiruddin Ansari said on Tuesday.

Other league matches will be played at RLCA Ground Gulberg, TMC Ground and at Vital-V Ground Defence Housing Authority.—APP

Gen Wynne lauds Pak Tri Service Cricket Team for winning IDCC-2012 R AWA L P I N D I —Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Khalid Shameem Wynne on Tuesday met the members of Pakistan Tri Service cricket team who have recently won International Defence Cricket Challenge-2012 which was held in Australia.

The Chairman appreciated the performance of Pakistani team and congratulated the members for securing their place in World Defence Eleven.

According to ISPR here, a total of eight teams from five countries participated.

Pakistani team won all the seven league matches before RAWALPINDI: Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with members of Pakistan winning the finals.—APP Tri Service Cricket team who won International Defence Cricket Challenge-2012.

‘AIDS cure’ good for only one percent of patients: experts P

HYSICIANS in Germany who say they have “functionally cured” a patient with HIV/AIDS are warning that their accidental breakthrough is effective for only about one percent of patients who suffer from AIDS. Headlines in November heralded an “AIDS cure” after Gero Huetter and Eckhard Thiel, blood-cancer specialists at Charite Hospital in Berlin, reported that they had seemingly cured a 42-year-old US patient of HIV/AIDS by giving him a bone-marrow transplant whilst treating him for cancer. Their breakthrough was made possible by studies in the late 1990s revealing that some people were resistant to HIV/AIDS, according to a report in New Scientist magazine on the Berlin haematologists’ discovery.

In these people, the virus cannot enter and destroy the white blood cells that it infects and destroys in most other people. They owed their resistance to a mutation in the gene that makes the molecular “door handle” by which HIV/AIDS gains access to cells.

Called CCR5, the protein door handle was misshapen in the immune individuals, locking HIV/AIDS out of their white blood cells, the New Scientist report noted. Since the discovery, it has been established that about one percent of Europeans have the same mutation, making them resistant to HIV/AIDS. To be resistant, they had to inherit the same mutation from both parents.

Huetter and Thiel made use of this when

treating their patient for leukaemia, which he had developed in addition to HIV/AIDS. To treat the leukaemia, the two doctors did the usual thing and sought a bone-marrow donor to replenish the patient’s blood supply following chemotherapy to kill the existing, cancerous blood cells.

But the Berlin doctors’ new approach was to get a donor who had the double HIVresistant CCR5 mutation. This meant that the patient’s replenished blood system would effectively be resistant to HIV/ AIDS, locking out the virus for good. This is what appears to have happened, according to the New Scientist analysis, and Huetter declared his patient “functionally cured”.

Attempts to use bone-marrow transplants in HIV/AIDS treatment have been made since the 1980s. In one case, a patient with both HIV/AIDS and lymphoma died of the cancer two months later, but was found to harbour no HIV/AIDS. It was not known if something in the transplant had protected him.

And in a famous 1995 case, Jeff Getty, a prominent San Francisco advocate for HIV/ AIDS patients, received bone marrow from a baboon, which is resistant to the human virus. The New York Times reported that he survived for 11 years, but died of HIV/AIDS and cancer. The Times said the transplant had not protected him but anti-retroviral triple therapy had been invented in time to help.

Hotter and Thiel have been quick to say that it is far too early to speak of a widespread general cure for HIV/AIDS.

KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah presiding over law and order meeting at CM House.

PPP to continue struggle for people’s rights: Sharjeel STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI — PPP

Central Deputy Information Secretary and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday said his party will never compromise on rights of the people and will continue its struggle for their rights.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has a long history of sacrifices to protect rights of the people especially the depressed ones, to safeguard and strengthen democracy and to uphold the constitution, he said in a statement here. He described the propaganda against PPP by certain frustrated quarters as totally baseless and false and said PPP has always been on the fore-front for the rights of Sindh and its people.

He said that in the next general elections PPP would return KARACHI: CNG users block MA Jinnah Road as they protest against strike of CNG deal- with a big majority throughout the country especially in Sindh. The ers.—Photo Imran Gilani anti-Sindh forces would be plainly rejected by people of the province, he said.

Transporters block MA Jinnah Road in protest over CNG crisis STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Distressed by the scarcity of compressed natural gas (CNG), transporters blocked MA Jinnah Road - the main artery of the city early Tuesday morning.

According to media reports, the portion of MA Jinnah Road from Gurumandir to Numaish Chowrangi was barricaded with rickshaws and taxis for at least four hours, after the owner of a CNG station ordered to close down his fuel station late night with people in long queues of

vehicles waiting for their turn for hours. Meantime, massive traffic jams were seen on other main roads including Shahra-eFaisal owing to long rows of motorists at the CNG stations, as a large number of the CNG stations are closed in protest.

The CNG stations’ owners asserted that they cannot sell the fuel gas on the cut prices as sanctioned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The citizens lashed out at the politicians who raised the slogan of environment friendly to transfer the vehicles on CNG; now

creating an artificial shortage of the gas, they have deprived the livelihood from a common man.

It should be mentioned here that on October 25, the apex court declared the formula to link the CNG price with oil prices as “illegal”. The court also directed OGRA to announce revised prices minus surcharges and cess.

The OGRA subsequently announced the reduced prices of the CNG. However, the CNG stations, in opposition to the newly announced prices, began unilaterally shutting down their fuel pumps as a sign of protest.

Joyful evening at Russian Consulate SALAHUDDIN HAIDER KARACHI —It was a lovely evening at the Russian Consulate general in Karachi at tthe week end. Although it was a film show of animated cartoons, but the efforts of the Russian Consul General Andrey Demidov and his wife, need to be appreciated for promoting goodwill with the Pakistanis.

They left nothing to spare to collect people from different walks of life at their official residence from time to time to enhance relations with them. It is indeed laudable, and must be encouraged. Pak-Russian relations (with former Soviet Union) had been at their peak in the 60s, but USSR’s open

assisstance to India in aggression on Pakistan in 1971 which saw the separation of former East Pakistan, had soured these ties, a situation mended only by the visit to Moscow by the former President General Pevez Musharraf, and helped it further with the visit to Moscow by President Asif Zardari.

Both these visits helped turn a new leaf into bilateral relationship with the Russian Federation, which has again begun to occupy an important place in comity of nations.

Russia has overcome most of its problems, and is fast emerging as a State to reckon with in world affairs.

Pakistan’s improved ties with Russia which is ready to help in rebuilding the Pakistan Steel Mill, in trouble since long,

and assistance in other spheres is the need of the hour. At the Russian reception,Ghinva Bhutto, widow of late Mir Murtaza Bhutto with her daughter Fatima was a delight for many.

They all were happy to see her reemergence i n public life.

Fatima at the same time her made name internationally known with the famous book Songs and Swords, anda second one also which raises her high in esteem in public eye, including the intellectuals, thinkers and politicians.

Also present were editors, like Kazi Asad Abid, journalists and the German Consul General Dr Klinner and his Russian wife. It was indeed a happy occasion for all those who had turned up at the call of their hosts.

Jails management system to be improved: Wassan STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Sindh Minister for Prisons, Manzoor Hussain Wassan said that the management system of jails would be streamlined and improved. He was presiding over a meeting of the senior officers of the Department here on Tuesday. The Minister said that for overcoming the shortage of staff, new recruitment would be made. He said that steps would also be undertaken for strengthening of the jails’ security. Manzoor Wassan said that the inmates of the prisons would be provided in accordance with the jail manual.

CM lauds LEAs for maintaining peace during Ashura STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday chaired a high level meeting regarding law and order in the province specially in Karachi.

The meeting was attended

by Law Minister Ayaz Somor, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas , ACS (Home) Waseem Ahmed, I.G Police Sindh Fayaz Ahmed Leghari, Deputy D.G Rangers Brig Muhammad Rafique Khan, AIG Police Karachi Iqbal Mehmood, Advocate General Sindh Fatha

Malik, Prosecutor General Sindh Shahdat Awan, Secretary Law Ghulam Nabi Shah and others.

The Chief Minister reviewing the performance and results during Moharam-ulHarram/Youm-e-Ashura, congratulated the Police, Rangers and other law enforcing agencies.

He appreciated the prompt measures, coordinated efforts and other vigilance adopted by all forces and agencies, with the results the Ashra-eMuharam passed peacefully and no untoward incident took place.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah also appreciated efforts of CID Police, who’s efforts achieved

detection of subversive explosive material and other criminals.

The meeting discussed various issues, progress, performance and achievements of Home department, police, rangers, law department, prosecution department and LEAs. Sindh Law Minister, Sindh Information Minister, Sindh Finance Minister, Chief Secretary Sindh, ACS(Home), I.G Police Sindh, Deputy D.G Rangers Sindh, AIG Police Karachi, Prosecutor General Sindh, Advocate General Sindh and others highlighted detailed reports, performance, and various issues were also in the light of situation after passing of 18th Amendment.

Tests for 19,000 teachers in December: Pir Mazhar OBSERVER R EPORT K ARACHI — Senior Provincial Minister for Education and Literacy Pir Mazhar ul Haq Monday said tests for the posts of 19000 teachers in education department would be conducted in December.

While offer letters to the successful candidates would be issued next year in January.

This he said while talking to media here at his office in a ceremony which marked the award of certificate, shield and cash prize to a 12-year-old student of Bharia School Karsaz, Shaheer Ahmed, who has participated in the Art competition organized by the

UNESCO. He said our new generation was second to none in talents and the present democratic government was encouraging them at all platforms and trying to improve educational standard in the province, especially in government schools. During FY13, allocation for education amounted to 20 percent of the total provincial budget, he said.

He said present government was fully committed to enhance education and welcomes health criticism, private and public both sectors can promote education in Sindh.

The minister education said on the directives of chief minister Sindh fake appointments in Shikarpur and Jacobabad had been cancelled and those who were found involved in corruption would be dealt strictly.

He informed that he had visited Kotwali Schools that day and ordered to merge all six schools there under a head according to the consolidated policy of education department and all detailment order had been cancelled.

Present among others on the occasion were dramatist Fatima Suruya Bujya, Shujaat Baig, Principal Captain Tariq Rasheed and others.

500gm heroin recovered OBSERVER REPORT KARACHI —An excise team headed by Inspector Aamir Khan Kalwar Tuesday raided a passenger coach bounded from Peshawar to Karachi and recovered some 500 grams heroin.

The team claimed to have arrested two accused from the coach.

According to an official statement, Kalwar raided coach MR-XA072 on the Indus Highway near Sada Behar More Kashmore and when searched it recovered the drugs.

Two people arrested were Rehmanullah and Khalid Shah.

Cases have been registered KARACHI: Provincial Minister for Eeducation & Literacy Pir Mazhar ul Haq awarding against them and they have been certificate to Shaheer Ahmed student of Behria School Karsaz who participated in Art Competition organized by UNESCO. handed over to the police.

Corruption case

NAB grants 15-day physical remand to accused STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Accountability Court, Karachi on Tuesday granted 15 days physical remand of accused Sikandar Ali Abro and Ali Hasan in Rs 500 million corruption case. The accused Sikandar Ali Abro (a CSP Officer of Accounts Cadre) and his accomplice, Accountant Ali Hasan were arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB- Sindh) on charges of Rs 500 million corruption in Accountant General (AG) Sindh Office, an official press release said here.

The NAB Sindh is investigating the Hyderabad Accounts Office case in which huge fraud was detected in the heads of Pension, General Provident Fund and Wages account. During the course of the inquiry Rs. 200 million were recovered from the accused and efforts are being made to trace out the balance amount. The case was initiated in March this year in which government official posted in DAO Hyderabad with the help of other people systematically plundered the government funds. The accused also made several unauthorized payments to bogus companies from the pay heads reserved for the government officials allegedly.

Super Highway development activities STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI – DHA City Karachi’s (DCK) Steering Committee Meeting chaired by Administrator DHA, Brig Muhammad Abdullah was held at DHA’s Main Office to review the progress of the ongoing development activities at DCK site on Super Highway.

Project Director DCK, Brig (R) Muhammad Rafique apprised the Steering Committee about the progress of ongoing projects under Immediate Action Plan at DCK site.

Caffeine-diabetes link still unresolved

S

UGARY drinks are linked to a height ened risk of developing Type 2 diabe tes, but a large U.S. study that confirmed this shed little light on whether caffeine suggested in past studies to have a link to sugar processing - helps or hinders. Among more than 100,000 men and women followed for 22 years, those who drank sugar-sweetened drinks were as much as 23 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those who didn’t, but the risk was about the same whether the drinks contained caffeine or not, according to the study that appeared in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“We found that caffeine doesn’t make a difference at all,” said lead author Frank Hu of Harvard University.

“Coffee can be beneficial and the caffeine doesn’t appear to have a positive or negative effect on diabetes risk.” Numerous past studies have linked regular consumption of soft drinks, both sugar- and artificially-sweetened, to an increased risk of diabetes. Research over the past decade has also suggested that caffeine temporarily prevents the body from processing sugar efficiently - a problem that those who live with diabetes deal with all the time.

That at least suggests that caffeine in conjunction with sweetened drinks might raise diabetes risk even further. However, other research has found a protective effect from coffee and tea, suggesting caffeine does the opposite.

Hu and his coauthors wanted to know

if people who regularly drink sugary and caffeinated beverages might only be exaggerating their risk of developing a disease that affects nearly 26 million adults and children, or about 8 percent of the U.S. population, according to the American Diabetes Association.

They examined the health habits of 75,000 women and 39,000 men involved in longterm health studies that began in the mid-1980s. Compared to people who didn’t consume sugary drinks, the likelihood of developing diabetes over the years for those who did was higher by 13 percent for caffeinated sugary drinks and 11 percent for decaffeinated among women, and by 16 percent or 23 percent among men, respectively. Caffeine-free artificially sweetened drinks were also linked to a 6 percent increase in risk among women.

However, coffee drinkers showed slightly lower risks compared to non-drinkers. The chances of developing diabetes were 8 percent lower among women, whether they drank decaf or regular coffee, and for men, 4 percent lower with regular coffee and 7 percent lower with decaf.

Hu and his team have used this same dataset, which contains the health habits of mostly white health professional, to suggest that regular coffee drinking in general is tied to a lower risk of diabetes.

But past studies, like the current one, have also found that the risk falls even lower if adults drink decaffeinated coffee.

Drug factory seized L AHORE —The health authorities during a raid seized an illegal drug factory here on Tuesday and took into custody huge quantity of fake medicines but the factory owner managed to escape. According to details, a team of health department raided an illegal drug factory located in Sheraz Park area of Shahdara, Lahore.

During raid huge quantity of substandard medicines mostly cough syrups were seized.

Talking to media persons on the occasion, DCO Lahore said that health department and district adminstration was alert and raids were being conducted at illegal drugs factories in the city.—INP

CNG supply resumes tomorrow

LAHORE: Activists of Pasban-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat, Civil Society, PDP are chanting slogans in favour of their demands during a protest demonstration.

To messify farming

LAHORE —The CNG supply to filling stations in Lahore region would resume on Thursday after three-day weekly closure.

The Compress Natural Gas (CNG) supply to filling stations in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal and Multan regions was closed on Monday under government’s load-management plan.

It will resume at 6 pm Thursday, followed by a three-day closure in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Islamabad from Thursday.

CNG stations went on an unannounced strike on Monday across the country, posing serious troubles to the commuters following inconclusive talks between the CNG Dealers Association and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

The CNG closure added to miseries of people using CNG-powered vehicles or relying on CNG-run transport as public transport turned thin on roads, making it hard for office workers and students to reach their destinies.—Online

Shahbaz orders speedy provision of tractors SALIM AHMED

L AHORE —Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed the concerned authorities to expedite the process of provision of tractors to farmers, which should be completed

by December 31 at all cost.

The Chief Minister also directed to constitute a highlevel committee in this regard, which will oversee the process of transparent distribution of tractors.

He said that self-sufficiency can be achieved in the agriculture sector at the national level by promoting agriculture economy on concrete and sustainable foundations.

He said Punjab government has initiated many development programmes aimed at welfare and uplift of farming community, in addition to increasing agriculture LAHORE: Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira talking to senior jourproductivity to realize the nalists on Tuesday.

L AHORE —Iqbal Academy dream of self-autarky in agriPakistan will organise a lec- culture sector. He said positure on “Iqbal and Quran” on tive and encouraging results Wednesday here at Aiwane-Iqbal. Vice Chancellor of University of Gujrat, Dr Muhammad Ikram Chaudhary will deliver keynote address on the occaresentatives to play their vigThe meeting was also sion.—APP STAFF REPORTER orous role in controlling addressed by Begum Shaista L AHORE—Special Assistant population increase and pre- Pervaiz Malik, Arifa Khalid MUZAFFAR ALI to Chief Minister on Health, venting deadly diseases, like MPA, Maulana Raghib Khawaja Salman Rafique has AIDs. He said the govern- Naeemi and senior journalist LAHORE—District Coordinasaid that there is a need to ment is discharging its duties Sohail Warriach, who pretion Officer (DCO) Lahore launch an effective move- effectively to ensure dengue sented their suggestions re- LAHORE—City traffic police Noor-ul-Amin Mengal has inment to create health aware- control on permanent basis. garding prevention of AIDs. have finalised a diversion augurated 3 days anti- polio Khawaja Salman Rafique Special Secretary Health plan for traffic during the ness among the general pubcampaign in 50 sensitive union lic in order to eradicate vari- said that the health sector is Babar Hayat Tarar said on the construction of an under- councils by administrating ous illnesses. He said if at- above politics, as the patient occasion that Punjab is the pass at Kalma Chowk. polio drops to below 5 years tention is not paid to prevent and the disease have no reli- only province which is effecChief Traffic Officer Suhail children of Khan Colony in the diseases, then the number of gion. He said we would have tively running its AIDs Con- Chaudhry alongwith circle jurisdiction of Gulberg Town patients would keep increas- to concentrate on practical trol Programme, without any heads inspected areas linking here on Tuesday. ing, while the health budget steps, rather than just mak- foreign aid, while the Punjab Kalma Chowk on Tuesday DCO Lahore administrated and hospitals would not be ing speeches, for which ev- government is providing and ordered wardens to en- polio drops to more than dozen ery person has to play its due funds in this regard for the sure the implementation on able to meet the demand. of children and marked black last three years.

He expressed these views role. the diversion plan. He di- impression on their thumbs.

Addressing the meeting, He said that government rected the circle heads to moniwhile talking to an advisory On this occasion, repreSecretary would continue to support tor duty officers especially meeting between public rep- Parliamentary sentatives of WHO, UNICEF, resentatives, Ulema and me- Health Dr. Saeed Elahi said AIDs Control Programme, in during rush hours to ensure health and EDO(Health) were dia personnel, regarding pre- that there is a need for the future as well. Shaista smooth flow of traffic.—APP also with him. venting the growth of AIDs public representatives for Perviaz Malik said that there in the country, here today. ensuring legislation in this is a need to come out of semiKhawaja Salman Rafique said regard, besides keeping nar rooms in order to prevent that increasing population is close liaison with the people AIDs, with the similar spirit the biggest hurdle in plan- of their constitutions, so that as dengue virus was conning the health-related greater awareness can be cre- trolled, collectively. She said ated among the general pub- there is a need to stop disneeds.

He called upon the lic against the AIDs and other criminatory attitude towards the AIDs patients.

Ulema, media and public rep- illness.

Lecture on ‘Iqbal and Quran’

Spread of health awareness helps remedy illnesses

Kalma Chowk traffic diversion plan

Illegal constructions demolished L AHORE —Lahore Development Authority during a special drive against land grabbers in various areas of city on Tuesday retrieved precious land worth tens of millions of rupees after demolishing a number of unlawful structures.

According to LDA officials, the Estate Management Directorate retrieved a plot measuring 19 kanlas in C Block of Johar Town from illegal occupants.

The plot had been earmarked as a public utility site for setting up a building for the benefit of the general public. The land grabbers had set up more than 40 concrete structures at the place which were razed during the operation. Meanwhile, Town Planning Wing sealed a pizza shop on Main Boulevard Ghulshan-e-Ravi as the management of the shop had made addition to the existing

premises without getting approval from LDA. In another incident, LDA staff demolished a workshop as well as two shops in Revenue Employees Housing Society, Johar Town, as the structures had been illegally constructed by grabbing a plot. LDA staff also demolished an illegal construction which had been established in the parking area of LDA Flats, Lawrence Road.—APP

have been produced as a result of farmer-friendly steps taken by the Punjab government, which has resulted in boosting per acre productivity.

He said Punjab government has initiated the process of provision of subsidized tractors, under the Green Tractor Scheme, to farmers, throughout the province, whereas these tractors are being given to the farming community, after a transparent balloting process.

He expressed these views while presiding over a high level meeting regarding progress in provision of tractors under Green Tractor Scheme. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries of Agriculture, Finance, Industry and authorities concerned attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister said that, during the current year, as many as 10048 tractors are

being distributed among the farmers while the Punjab government is extending a subsidy of Rs.2 lakh on every tractor.

He said as many as ten thousand tractors are being distributed throughout the province, after a transparent balloting and merit, while 48 tractors would be distributed at Dera Ghazi Khan and tribal areas of Rajanpur.

He said tractors distribution process has been initiated purely on the basis of merit, and after conducting transparent balloting.

He said quota for South Punjab districts has been fixed to be more than the proportion of their population, in order to provide maximum agriculture facilities to the farmers of South Punjab.

Secretary Agriculture informed the Chief Minister, during his briefing, that over 5000 tractors have been distributed, while the remaining would also be distributed before December 31.

DCO opens 3-day anti-polio drive Mengal appealed the citizens to administrate polio drops to their children who are below 5 years. Before that, DCO Lahore met students of Pashto language and admired their work in last anti-polio drive. He enquired from all students one by one about working of polio teams. He distributed cash prizes and appreciation letters among those students who worked in last antipolio drive.

Moreover, DCO Lahore directed the officers of CDGL to pay their full attention and work whole heartedly in antipolio drive.

He was presiding a meet-

ing here at Town Hall here on Tuesday. He directed DO(C) to monitor polio campaign and appoint MEOs of DMO office to check the performance and attendance of polio teams.

He directed DO(M&I) Amin Akbar Chopra to sent all teams in field at 8am regularly and to deploy special teams in Bus stands, Zoo and other picnic points in city.

FIR registered against Senator’s son STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Civil Lines police

registered a case against Rizwan Hameed, a son of Senator Najma Hameed of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and his two friends for allegedly selling a plot to an England-returned woman Rukhsana Kusar through a bogus registry.

Ali Aslam, a main accused in this alleged fraud case, was arrested and under interrogation while the police are still reluctant to question Rizwan Hameed in regard of his implication in alleged FIR because of his family’s political background.

According to the investigation officer of the Civil Lines Police Station, Mehboob Ahmed, prior to LAHORE: Chief Mobilizer on Dengue Awareness Programme, Begum Shaista Parvez registering this fresh FIR against the accused.

Malik visiting the Day Care Centre of Qasiri Bahbood Centre Model Town.

Punjab’s plea to cancel Madhiana’s bail rejected STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday has rejected the Punjab government’s plea to cancel Aslam Madhiana bail.

The Punjab government filed a petition in the LHC, seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Aslam Madhiana, main accused of teacher torture case in Sargodha, by the trial court.

LHC judge Justice Muzhar Ali Naqvi heard the case.

The counsel for the government informed the court that Aslam Madhiana along with his accomplices brutally tortured a school teacher, Muhammad Nafees.

Madhiana’s lawyer told the court that his client was not involved any torture case, adding that the case was fake and registered on political bases.

After hearing the arguments, the court maintained the trial court’s decision.

Robbers gun down man LAHORE—Robbers gunned down one person and injured another upon resistance during a robbery attempt here late Monday night.

According to police, two real brothers who run a general store in Small Industrial Cooperative Housing Society, Defence-B police station jurisdiction were returning home after closing shop when armed robbers tried to snatch cash and mobile phones from them.

Upon resistance the robbers opened fire killing Irshad on the spot and injuring his real brother Shahzad and fled the scene with looted cash.

The body and injured were shifted to General Hospital Lahore for medico legal requirements.

The police registered a case against unknown accused and started search for them.—INP